Saskatoon police arrest 2nd suspect in homicide of Matthew Brabant

CBC News

· Posted: May 26, 2025 3:05 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

Police person arrested Lawrence Opikowew and charged him with first-degree execution successful the shooting decease of 20-year-old Mathew Brabant successful a Saskatoon motel.

Brabant was recovered with a gunshot coiled successful a motel country successful the 2000 artifact of Avenue B North astatine around 5 a.m. CST connected May 17, 2025. He was taken to hospital, wherever helium died of his injuries.

At the time, a 27-year-old antheral was arrested and charged with murder, but Opikowew, who was wanted successful transportation to the shooting, remained astatine ample with constabulary telling the nationalist helium was equipped and dangerous.

According to a Monday merchandise from the Saskatoon Police Service, the outstanding suspect — who was named arsenic Opikowew — was arrested connected Saturday.

Brabant's decease is Saskatoon's 3rd homicide of the year.

Brabant's sister Allison Forsberg said she wanted radical to cognize that her member was much than conscionable different headline.

"He was a full person. A brother. A son. A father. Someone who carried softness, humour, and insight. It's not conscionable astir the imaginable of who helium could person become, but the aboriginal helium was already shaping for himself, 1 that household and friends could spot successful his actions and presence."

Forsberg described her member arsenic calm and thoughtful, and idiosyncratic with integrity successful the mediate of chaos.