Duo accused in random Osborne Village attacks no strangers to police

A man arrested following a violent, random attack on two men in Osborne Village late Sunday night was released from jail a week earlier after a dozen charges, including crimes of violence, were stayed against him, court records show.

A man in his 40s was sent to hospital in critical condition and another man in his 20s in stable condition following separate attacks shortly before midnight in the vicinity of River Avenue and Osborne Street.

Police have charged Reginald Owen, 26, and Meaghan Owen, 32, both from Little Grand Rapids, with assault with a weapon and aggravated assault. They both remain in custody.

Court records show Reginald Owen was sentenced Sept. 24 to 30 days time served after pleading guilty to simple possession of magic mushrooms. Owen remained in custody until the following day when he was set to apply for bail on charges including assault, sexual assault, choking to overcome resistance, pointing a firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon.

Prosecutors stayed the charges in return for Owen agreeing to a one-year peace bond during which time he was to have no contact with a named female complainant.

“You have to promise to keep the peace and be of good behaviour,” provincial court Judge Darcie Yale told Own. “Basically, stay out of trouble and follow the law.”

Winnipeg police said Tuesday the older victim was confronted by a man and woman while waiting at a bus stop on Osborne Street near River Avenue at about 11:40 p.m.

He was punched, knocked to the ground, and kicked, rendering him unconscious.

“Our understanding is the first victim was at a bus stop minding his own business when he was confronted by the unknown male and female,” police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said.

“(It was) quite a violent attack. He was punched, knocked to the ground, kicked and he was left unconscious, and the two (suspects) walked away and then they just stayed at another bus stop that was right by the initial site.”

The second victim was walking past the suspects, who were sitting on a bench, when they demanded to use his phone. When he refused, he was assaulted with a broken bottle, police said.

The male suspect fled, while the female suspect returned to the bus shelter where the original assault occurred and lay down on the sidewalk, falling asleep, while the first victim remained there unconscious.

The victims were rushed to hospital, the first in critical condition and the second in stable condition.

Police searched the area and found the two suspects, who were arrested.

Police tape was stretched across the area in front of the Gas Station Arts Centre through much of the morning rush hour Monday as investigators processed the scene.

A pane of glass from the bus stop in front of the centre was missing and shattered glass remained scattered on the ground.

The Winnipeg Police Service’s major crimes division has taken over the investigation.

In June 2025, Reginald Owen pleaded guilty to an array of offences spanning six years, including two counts of carrying a concealed weapon (in both cases a knife), two counts of theft from liquor stores, two counts of failing to appear in court and impaired driving causing bodily harm. He was sentenced to the equivalent of six months time served and prohibited from driving for one year.

In court, Owen responded to questions with one-word answers and at times appeared slow to comprehend what he was being told.

Court heard Owen had been living in Winnipeg with few supports and had been struggling with alcohol abuse.

“I think it’s a good idea that you go back to (Little Grand Rapids) because Winnipeg is not going well for you,” said provincial court Judge Kusham Sharma. “I think this is a situation where he needs to be with his family.”

Meaghan Owen was sentenced in 2022 to 18 months supervised probation after admitting to attacking a Little Grand Rapids man in his home with a hammer when she was intoxicated.

The site lead of a drop-in for vulnerable people, located across the street from one of the attacks, couldn’t say if the accused were clients.

“I just don’t know enough to know,” said Thomas Vanderkrogt of 1JustCity, which operates the drop-in Oak Table.

The organization, which rents space in the Augustine United Church at 107 Pulford St., operates daily drop-in programs and an overnight shelter from November until the end of March.

“There is so much stigma attached to people that are already unhoused and living with addiction that this might just exacerbate that particular story,” Vanderkrogt said. “I’m mostly just worried, again, that this is going to increase the stigma that people carry with them already.”

— with files from Morgan Modjeski

dean.pritchard@winnipegfreepress.com

chris.kitching@winnipegfreepress.com