Youth charged with 2nd Degree Murder following incident in Fort Hope First Nation

Tim Brody - Editor

A young person within the meaning of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) has been re-arrested and had charges laid against them upgraded to 2nd Degree Murder following an investigation by Ontario Provincial Police and Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service into an incident which occurred in Fort Hope First Nation.
Ontario Provincial Police shared through a media release, “On July 12, 2020 at 9:30 p.m., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a request from the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service to assist with an investigation into an aggravated assault against two residents on the Fort Hope First Nation that occurred on July 8, 2020.”
As a result of that investigation, a young person was arrested and charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault, contrary to Section 268 of the Criminal Code and two counts of Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, contrary to Section 88 of the Criminal Code.
Police report that Arlene Wapoose, 26, of Fort Hope First Nation succumbed to her injuries on July 12.
“The young person was re-arrested on July 14, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. and charged with 2nd Degree Murder contrary to Section 235(1) of the Criminal Code, The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on July 15, 2020 and is being held in custody pending a bail hearing,” Ontario Provincial Police shared.
Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service and the OPP Northwest Region Crime Unit, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) are continuing their investigation.
Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or your nearest police authority.
Information can also be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or access their website at: http://www.p3tips.com/273 where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.