Beating death outside gay club not a hate crime: police

Winnipeg police are investigating the death of a 35-year-old man who was badly beaten outside a downtown nightclub that caters to the city's gay community.

A fight broke out around 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning outside of Club 200 on Garry Street.

The man died Monday morning in hospital from unspecified injuries sustained in the fight.

Police know little about how the fight started, but said they don't believe it was a hate crime.

"We've pretty much ruled that out," said Sgt. Kelly Dennison on Monday.

"This is one of those incidents where [investigators] are looking for anybody's assistance, anybody who may have been at this bar that night, or anybody that may have seen this altercation outside of the nightclub."

Anyone who witnessed events that night is asked to call the Winnipeg police homicide unit.

The death outside the downtown club was one of twohomicides reported over the weekend.

On Saturday morning, a 29-year-old man was shot on Boyd Avenue near Salter Street, in the city's North End neighbourhood.

He was sent to hospital in critical condition, but later died.

Investigators have not said whether they have any suspects in that case.