WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The final teen involved in the “shocking” killing of a man at a downtown Winnipeg library has been sentenced for manslaughter, marking the end of legal proceedings related to the death.
Tyree Cayer, 28, was fatally attacked and stabbed at the Millennium Library on December 11, 2022, where four teens, aged 14 to 16, were charged in connection with his death. One of the teens stabbed him, while the other three assaulted him.
The youth who was sentenced on Tuesday, although not the one who stabbed Cayer, was found to have initiated the chain of events that led to the violent altercation. Crown attorney David Burland described the impact on the community as “horrendous” and emphasized that this incident forever changed the lives of dozens of people.
Due to the provisions under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the identities of the teens involved have been protected. The attack, described by the judge as “cowardly” and “disturbing,” led to the library’s closure for six weeks and prompted the reintroduction of airport-style security measures upon its reopening.
Court proceedings revealed that the sentenced youth has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, struggles with anger management and impulse control, and is suspected of having fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. His upbringing was marked by alcohol abuse in the family and a history of residential school involvement by his grandparents.
Tania Cayer, Tyree’s mother, addressed the youth in court, urging him to change his life and become an example instead of a stereotype. She emphasized the need for him to draw strength from his upbringing and shift toward a more positive path. The sentencing included additional secure custody time, followed by an intensive rehabilitative custody and supervision order—a plan designed to mitigate the risk of reoffending.
The incident, which led to the death of Tyree Cayer, and the subsequent legal proceedings, highlighted the impact of violent crimes on both the victim’s family and the community, as well as the challenges faced by at-risk youth. The closure of the library for an extended period and the reintroduction of heightened security measures also underscored the broader impact of such incidents on public spaces.
The resolution of the legal proceedings brings some closure to Tania Cayer and her family as they look towards the future. She hopes that her son will be remembered for his generosity and kindness, rather than solely being a victim of a tragic event.