The victim of Saskatoon’s fourth homicide of the year was trying to break up a fight when he was stabbed, his aunt says.
Matthew Herman, 22, died in hospital Saturday morning, hours after he and an 18-year-old man were stabbed in a parking lot at Assiniboine Drive and Warman Road.
Police say officers were called to a fight in the parking lot at about 2:30 a.m. The 18-year-old was also taken to hospital, but was eventually released.
Herman’s aunt, Vennah Herman, told CTV News her nephew was visiting Saskatoon from La Loche. He was defending a friend when the stabbing occurred.
“I guess two boys came out of the vehicle and started fighting his friend,” she said. “Matthew jumped out and started breaking up the fight, and that’s when he got stabbed. That’s what I heard.”
Herman was a happy young man, according to his aunt. He was a hockey player and a volunteer firefighter in La Loche, and worked hard to support his older sister and younger brother.
“He was a good man,” she said.
He visited her about a week before his death.
“He was having so much fun,” his aunt said. “He was just having fun with my boys. (He) laughed his heart out that day! It was so fun for him.”
La Loche Mayor Kevin Janvier said the death is a big loss for the community — especially for the fire department.
“He was an outgoing person — always had a smile on his face,” Janvier said. “He was a great guy to be around at the end of the day.”
An autopsy is set for Thursday, according to Janvier. The body will be returned to the community.
A Canada-wide warrant has since been issued for Miguel Gomez in connection to the death. The 20-year-old is wanted for second-degree murder, Saskatoon police said Tuesday.
Herman did not know Gomez, according to police.
Gomez is described as 5-9 and 185 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He has small tattoos on his cheeks — one underneath each eye.
He’s also wanted on two counts of breaching probation and should not be approached, police say.
