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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Trio facing charges after shotgun accidentally fired in vehicle

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 03/4/2013 11:50 AM

First they faced down a sawed-off shotgun with a toy pistol.

Then while playing with the shotgun in their vehicle it went off, damaging the door.

Now three men are in custody facing several weapon and drug related charges.

"I hate to use the word stupidity, but I will. People were at risk," Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said today.

"We’re thankful the only injury is to the door and to no one themselves."

Michalyshen said the incident began on Sunday when two men were doing a drug transaction inside a Honda CRV in Garden City when a third unknown man came up and confronted them with a sawed-off shotgun.

Michalyshen said when one of the two men pulled out a replica handgun and challenged the man he dropped the shotgun and ran.

The two men then drove downtown with the shotgun and picked up another man. While in the 200 block of Portage Avenue, near Dominion News, the three men began handling the shotgun and accidentally fired it into the door.

When police came and searched the vehicle they found, besides the replica handgun and the sawed-off shotgun, cash and marijuana.