Winnipeg police and the family of 19-year-old Dominique McCann are appealing for the public's help in the investigation into her death.
She was found injured around 6:30 a.m. in the 400 block of Selkirk Avenue on Dec. 2 and was rushed to hospital, but later died.
"They took a little piece of my heart…I wanted to die too," said Adeline Nippi, McCann's mother.
On Monday, police said McCann's death was being treated as suspicious and is under investigation by the homicide unit.
Family last saw McCann on Nov. 30.
Shortly before McCann's death, she was spotted on Selkirk Avenue stumbling and almost falling to the ground, said Nippi. Friends found her and asked to come inside their home to rest.
Hours later, Nippi said her daughter could not be roused.
"They checked her pulse - nothing, not breathing. I guess the woman just put her on the floor and tried to do CPR," said Nippi. Emergency crews were called and rushed her to hospital, where McCann later died.
Nippi believes her daughter died from a beating. There were apparently scratches all over McCann's face and she believes people witnessed what happened.
"Why couldn't they stop it? People (saw) what was going on. They didn't even try to stop it – that person, whoever did it to her," said Nippi.
Officers are trying to retrace the days and hours leading up to the young woman's death, from Wednesday to early Friday morning.
"Where our victim may have been prior to this, who may have been in that location - those are all things we are trying to determine. Sometimes cases aren't cut and dry," said Const. Natalie Aitken from Winnipeg police.
Both police and the family are now asking for anyone with information about McCann's case to come forward.
"I want her to rest but she won't rest (until) this is done with," said Nippi. "I miss her."
The appeal for help is also echoed by McCann's sister, who is only nine.
Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact investigators at 986-6508, or Crime Stoppers at 786-8477.
- with a report from CTV's Stacey Ashley
