Three charged with attempted murder in hotel suite fire

Three people, including two teen girls, have been charged with attempted murder and arson in connection to a Winnipeg hotel fire early Sunday.

Police officers and other emergency personnel were called to the Super 8 at 3760 Portage Ave. at about 2:50 a.m.

Responders found a woman unconscious in a suite, the Winnipeg Police Service said Monday. She was rushed to hospital in critical condition, and later upgraded to stable.

Officers who arrived at the scene determined three people suspected to be linked to the fire had fled, the WPS said.

Police located a 14-year-old girl nearby. An 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl were detained near Livinia Avenue and Isbister Street. Officers also seized a sawed-off gun.

Major crimes officers determined the three suspects were with the victim before the fire, police said Monday.

Charly Scott, a spokeswoman for the hotel, said staff are heartbroken over the woman’s injury.

“We want to thank the police, fire and paramedics that were at the property,” said Scott, director of business development for Schinkel Properties. “We are glad that the (WPS) had a swift response and have arrested the individuals (allegedly) responsible.”

Scott said emergency crews kept the fire contained to one unit, with damage estimated at about $19,000.

Thilan Eswarage, 43, was staying at the hotel over the weekend with his wife and 13-year-old daughter and woke Sunday in their ground-floor room to the fire alarm.

“We thought initially it was a false alarm or something,” said the Calgary resident, who was in Winnipeg for his daughter’s swim meet.

“We came to the lobby and started the car, packed as much as we can into the car, and were waiting in the front area when we saw the responders brought one (person) down.”

Eswarage said he saw what looked like ash or burns on the victim’s clothing. “There were so many black spots.”

Outside the three-storey hotel on the western edge of the city, no visible signs of an emergency response or fire could be seen Monday afternoon.

Cassis Vaughn Malcom, 18, is charged with attempted murder, arson with disregard for human life, and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

A 16-year-old girl is charged with attempted murder, arson with disregard for human life, possession of a firearm knowing it’s unauthorized, identity fraud, and four counts of failing to comply with court orders.

A 14-year-old girl is charged with attempted murder and arson with disregard for human life.

All three were detained, police said.

[email protected]

Twitter: @erik_pindera