Police, investigating shooting, seek SUV

Police are asking for the public’s help in finding an SUV as part of their investigation into a woman being shot at a Wellington Crescent apartment this weekend.

A 28-year-old man is charged with aggravated assault in the incident. The Winnipeg Police Service’s major crimes unit is looking for a red 2019 Kia Sportage they say the man charged drove off in early Sunday.

Investigators believe the SUV was driven eastbound outside of city limits, near Deacon Road and the Trans-Canada Highway, and abandoned.

“The vehicle may have been driven on service roads, municipal roads and southeast Manitoba community roadways before it was abandoned,” the WPS said in a news release Wednesday.

The four-door SUV has “distinctive black decal striping” on the length of the front and rear doors, the release said.

The WPS advised anyone who sees the vehicle to call police and not to approach it. The major crimes unit asked anyone with information about where the SUV is, or relevant video, to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS).

The 25-year-old victim suffered “a life-altering injury,” the WPS said Tuesday. She was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

Police said the man and his girlfriend were “involved in an altercation” at an apartment on the 200 block of Wellington Crescent at about 2:15 a.m. The man pulled out a handgun, and the woman was shot at close range, police said previously.

She got out of the building and flagged down Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service members.

The man got in a vehicle and drove away before police arrived at the building, the WPS said, and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Police were told Monday that Machuor Machar Akau was in the area of Fermor Avenue and Beaverhill Road, and officers arrested him there at about 1:40 p.m.

He was detained in custody, police said Tuesday. A WPS spokeswoman said Tuesday she could not say whether Akau possessed the gun legally.

He was born in Kenya, and his family moved to Canada when he was eight. Akau played football at Oak Park High School, went on to join Carleton University’s team, and also played for the Winnipeg Rifles.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca