matthew alexis › deadmonton 2006 › deadmonton › edmonton

Matthew Alexis, 22, was stabbed to death July 22nd, 2006.

Shane Christopher Arcand, 28, was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a weapon.

A 22-year-old man became the city’s sixteenth homicide victim – the second murder in three days.

Police said the victim, suffering from multiple stab wounds, was found in an apartment at 10932 82 Street around 7:30 a.m.

The man was taken to Royal Alexandra Hospital where he died several hours later.

Police questioned a 28-year-old man who was at the scene when they arrived.

Police said that a domestic altercation led to the murder.

One building tenant told the Edmonton Sun, “I heard noises around 6:20 a.m., a little fighting.” He said he heard the noise coming from outside the building and then upstairs. “I said, 'What the hell?' ”

He said he later heard a woman screaming.

Interviewed by media, the apartment building's manager said the dispute arose after a tenant returned home to find another man in his suite with his wife.

The manager said the stabbing happened in a second-floor suite where Shane Arcand, an apprentice autobody mechanic, had been renting for about a year.

"He's such a nice guy. He's a nice, quiet guy," said the manager, adding she didn't know the 22-year-old man who was killed.

On July 23rd police announced they charged Shane Christopher Arcand, 28, with second-degree murder and possession of a weapon.

After a brief court appearance on July 24th, Arcand was remanded in custody until his next court appearance August 8th, 2006.

An autopsy determined that Matthew Alexis died of blood loss due to multiple stab wounds.

Family members speaking to media said Matthew "Matts" Alexis was a very good Christian who had just graduated from a paramedic training program at NAIT.

Alexis had received safety certification to work industrial EMS and was a safety consultant for his uncle's oil firm.

A member of the Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation, Matthew was in Edmonton celebrating his birthday.

According to his uncle, Arnold Alexis, Matthew and two cousins went to the city to have "one last birthday bash" before swearing off alcohol for a year. Matthew planned to join an annual pilgrimage to Lac Ste. Anne later in the weekend.

With cousins Armin and Dave Alexis, the three ended up at the apartment of Matthew's ex-girfriend.

Arnold Alexis told the Edmonton Journal, "My nephew had a relationship with this young lady. I think he really still had feelings for that girl. He was really devastated when she left him a while back."

At the apartment the cousins thought the woman was now in a relationship with the man who lived there, Shane Arcand.

"She kept telling us it was over, he was gone up north with his mom," recalled Armin for the Edmonton Sun.

Upon seeing pictures of the pair together around the apartment, "It didn't feel right," he said.

Armin and Dave left the apartment after failing to talk Matthew out of staying. "He gave us that look. He told us, 'Go, I'll be OK.' "

Arnold Alexis complained to the Journal, "They (media reports) made him sound like a homewrecker or something. He wasn't."

Armin said Matthew was going to clean up for his common-law wife and his nine-month-old son, Gabriel.

The Alexis family announced plans to set up a fund in Matthew's name to allow young Catholics to explore their faith as he did.

The memorial fund would sponsor young people going to the annual World Youth Day event. Matthew had been to such events in Toronto and Europe.

"God has a plan for everything. If God has a plan for this, it's a really good plan, because he took a good person," Armin said.

Matthew would have turned 23 on July 25th.

On June 14th, 2007 a preliminary hearing was held to determine if there was enough evidence against Shane Christopher Arcand to proceed to trial.

A judge ruled the evidence was sufficient and Arcand was ordered to make his next court appearance on August 3rd, 2007.

Meanwhile, Arcand remains free on bail.

deadmonton 2006 - matthew alexis