HOLLOW WATER FIRST NATION, Man. – A quiet morning in Hollow Water First Nation was shattered on Thursday when a mass stabbing left one young woman dead, several others injured, and the suspect killed following a crash with responding RCMP officers. Authorities have now confirmed the identities of both victims and the suspect as the community struggles to process the scale of the tragedy.
Victims Identified
RCMP named 18-year-old Marina Free Simard as the young woman who lost her life in the attack. Described by those who knew her as vibrant and full of promise, Marina’s death has left her family and community devastated.
Another victim was identified as Jenny Isabel Bushie, the suspect’s mother and also related to Marina. Jenny sustained serious injuries but survived. A third victim, Michael Raven, remains hospitalized after being stabbed multiple times. Raven’s children, Jordan Hamilton and Christy Williams, said he was asleep at home when the suspect broke in and attacked him. Raven suffered a punctured lung and other wounds but is conscious and speaking.
“The community is all shaken up from it. It is not something that happens in Hollow Water,” Williams shared. “This is scary for everybody.… This incident doesn’t sum up Hollow Water.”
Scope of the Attack
Police confirmed that at least eight people, ranging in age from 18 to 60, were injured in the violence. Six were transported by road to hospitals in Winnipeg, while two others were airlifted by STARS air ambulance. Due to the number of casualties, a Code Orange alert—a protocol for mass casualty events—was declared at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre. The alert was later lifted after patients were stabilized.
Suspect Confirmed Deceased
RCMP identified the suspect as Tyrone Blake Freeman Simard, the brother of Marina and son of Jenny. Simard died after a serious motor vehicle collision with a responding female RCMP officer during the chaos that followed the stabbings. Authorities confirmed that the officer, who sustained serious injuries in the crash, is expected to make a full recovery.
Mounties emphasized that there is no further threat to public safety but noted that investigators would remain in Hollow Water throughout the day. As part of the investigation, Highway 304 was temporarily closed in both directions south of Black River First Nation.
Official and Community Response
In a statement, Shared Health acknowledged the magnitude of the tragedy and the strain it placed on health resources:
“We were alerted to a mass casualty event on Hollow Water First Nation this morning. A Code Orange Alert was declared at the Health Sciences Centre shortly thereafter. Multiple patients were brought in with varying levels of acuity. Our thoughts are with the victims, patients, families, and loved ones.”
Community leaders and residents have described the incident as deeply shocking, with many saying Hollow Water is a place where violence of this scale is almost unheard of. Vigils, gatherings, and counseling services are being arranged to support grieving families and community members.
Moving Forward
The stabbings have left a permanent mark on Hollow Water First Nation, a small community located approximately 160 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg. While investigators continue their work and additional details are expected to be released at a scheduled RCMP press conference in Winnipeg, families are now left to pick up the pieces after an act of violence that took lives, shattered trust, and left many wounded.
This remains a developing story, with further updates anticipated as the investigation continues.