‘Everybody’s terrified’: Winnipeg store owner says latest fire is connected to series of arsons

An alleged convenience store arson in Winnipeg was captured on security cameras. CTV’s Jeff Keele has the latest on the investigation.

A Winnipeg business owner says a fire at a Logan Avenue convenience store is just the latest in a series of arsons tied to demands for money.

Last week, firefighters responded to a blaze at Logan Convenience. A video showing how the fire started has been submitted to CTV News.

In the video, two individuals wearing masks walk into the store. One of them is holding what appears to be a gun, and they point it towards the clerk. They can be heard telling the clerk to stay where they are.

The other person has a gas can and pours the contents on the floor throughout the store, the video shows. The individual near the clerk then tells them to go outside, and the clerk follows the orders and leaves the store.

The other person throws something that ignites a blaze, and the store goes up in flames within seconds.

This is the latest in a string of fires that have struck a number of small businesses, including restaurants.

Winnipeg police Insp. Jen McKinnon said Friday that the incidents aren’t necessarily all connected.

“At this point, they’re investigations — and I’m going to say no, they’re not all linked,” said McKinnon.

But another store owner, who does not want to be identified due to fear of reprisal, tells CTV News he and other small business owners are all being threatened to pay up or face arson by the same person.

“But everybody’s terrified,” he said. “I barely live in Winnipeg anymore, like, I have a home in Vancouver now.”

He said he’s been told to hand over money more than once, or else.

“Like me, it switched up three or four times, you know. First they wanted me to pay him five grand a month, or he’s going to burn down my store,” said the store owner.

He said his suspicions have been reported to Winnipeg police.

Police said Friday they are actively and aggressively investigating the fires and are optimistic they will have more answers in the near future.

“Different fires have different motivations,” said McKinnon. “They can be extortion, intimidation, and they can be fraud, and we have to consider all of that evidence and we have to prove or disprove that motivation.”