P.A. homicide victim died protecting young community member, says close friend

By Nigel Maxwell

A man who was shot and killed at a Prince Albert homeless camp died protecting one of his fellow community members.

That’s according to people who were with Thomas (Ponch) Bird at the time of the incident Saturday. Bird was 42 years old and had connections to the Montreal Lake area.

For the purpose of an interview, paNOW agreed not to identify the close friend and will instead identify him as “Todd.”

Todd said the incident began when a person who allegedly scammed some people arrived to seek refuge at the camp.

“Ponch is like one of the brothers so the young buck just basically ran up and hid behind him,” he said.

Moments later Bird was shot and killed. The person responsible fled, Todd said.

“Ponch” Bird. (Submitted photo)

Noting he’s known Bird for 20 years, Todd said his friend moved to the camp during COVID, never had a beef with anyone and was the type of person who would give people the shirt off his back.

“He was an uplifting guy, super funny, hilarious, always had the best jokes and he could put a smile on anybody’s face out here and this is a pretty unsmilable and unhappy place for most of us. You know we’re all rejects and the bottom of the barrel and he made the best of it. He made a family out of it,” he said.

Todd added Bird was their “hood father” and also took new camp arrivals under his wing. Bird’s nickname was Ponch.

“We all called him that because he had the long hair and he had a poncho when he was first coming around,” Todd recalled.

The incident Saturday marks the city’s second homicide of the year. The people responsible have not yet been caught. And even though it happened in their small tent community, Todd said residents are not afraid.

“We are not scared at all because it’s a situation where people didn’t do their homework and the people that shot him, they’re new in town and they’re just coming to the scene,” he said.

With respect to grieving, Todd explained they will sit around and share stories. Bird’s belongings will be divided up among his close friends and family.

“His family was his street people and I’d hate for any of this to go to waste and get thrown away because there’s a lot of history here,” Todd said.

Bird’s aunt Mary Naytowhow said her nephew was a good kid growing up, a bit mischievous, funny and goofy, and loved by his cousins, aunts and uncles.

“He became homeless a few months back but always took care of his cousins out on the streets. He would give his shirt off his back to warm another person. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him,” she said.

“Not many young people like that, but drugs got in the way but he never would hurt anyone.”

While noting the family is grieving the loss, Naytowhow noted it was also somewhat expected because of his lifestyle.

paNOW contacted the Prince Albert Police Service for comment on the investigation and whether an arrest was made. A spokesperson was not immediately available.