Man who shot rival gang member, innocent child bystander at Red River Ex about to be released from prison

A Winnipeg man who pulled out a pistol and shot a rival teenage gangster and an innocent 11-year-old bystander at the crowded Red River Exhibition four years ago is slated to leave federal prison.

Mocree Chuck Scatch-Dubour was just eight days shy of his 18th birthday on June 20, 2022, when he shot a 16-year-old member of a rival gang in the abdomen at the fairgrounds on the western edge of Winnipeg, sending frightened fairgoers scrambling for cover.

The bullet that struck Scatch-Dubour’s rival exited his body and hit an 11-year-old boy who just happened to be nearby. Both victims survived.

Scatch-Dubour, now 21, is up for legislated statutory release on his 5 1/2-year federal sentence.

By law, most federal inmates automatically receive statutory release after two-thirds of their sentence, if they have not already been paroled.

Scatch-Dubour was sentenced to the prison term as an adult in the spring of 2023 after pleading guilty to discharge of a firearm with intent to wound, aggravated assault and possession of a restricted firearm.

Parole Board of Canada officials, who detailed the unrepentant gangster’s bad behaviour while behind prison walls in a decision earlier this month, are imposing conditions on his “imminent” release.

Scatch-Dubour is to live at a federal halfway house in an unspecified Manitoba community, with no leave privileges, the decision said.

“You have continued to engage in violence in the institution and require a period of stability in the community, but leave would be assessed as unmanageable for public safety,” it said.

He will also be barred from drinking or using drugs and communicating with any gang members or other criminals, among other orders.

The parole board’s decision said Scatch-Dubour has offered no remorse for the shooting.

“You were prepared to commit violence to preserve your own reputation in the gang (in which) you remain a member,” reads the decision. “You have not shown commitment or interest in counselling or programming.”

The decision indicates that prior to the shooting, he had a history of assaults and robberies and had been found behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle with a shotgun, ammunition and an axe.

While behind prison bars, he has remained a high-ranking member of an unspecified gang.

He actively recruited new members to the gang while in provincial jail awaiting court and has a large number of “loyal followers,” said the board’s decision.

Scatch-Dubour has also assaulted another inmate, been found with contraband several times and has had issues with disciplinary problems and disruptive behaviours, said the decision.

“You have engaged in inmate fights using weapons or have joined in fights involving multiple people,” it said.

While on statutory release, Scatch-Dubour also must follow a treatment plan for his issues with violence, substance abuse, mental health and anger management, take prescribed medications for his mental-health conditions and either get or actively look for a job or go to school.

He can have a cellphone, but can’t delete anything from it and must unlock it and hand it over to his parole supervisor when asked.

However, the board said, he has limited supports in the community, no confirmed place to live once he’s let out of the halfway house and no plans for his education or employment, at this point.

Scatch-Dubour has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, reactive attachment disorder, depression and post traumatic stress disorder, the decision said.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca