Gun used in shooting of teen allegedly stolen from RCMP vehicle

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This article was published 26/10/2015 (3692 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two men are charged after a stolen RCMP gun was used in the shooting of a 16-year-old girl Saturday.

Police allege the gun was stolen from an off-duty RCMP officer’s vehicle while it was parked at his home in southeast Winnipeg Friday night. Other items from the officer’s equipment belt, including a camera, were also stolen, Winnipeg Police Service Deputy Chief Danny Smyth said Monday.

The 16-year-old girl is in critical condition after she was shot in the upper body while sitting in a parked car in a convenience store parking lot on Autumnwood Drive in the Windsor Park area about 12:30 a.m. Saturday. She’s expected to survive.

Matthew Wilfred McKay, 22, is charged with two counts of attempted murder, theft under $5,000, mischief under $5,000 and several weapons charges.

Matthew Andrew Miles, 25, is charged with two counts of theft under $5,000 and numerous weapons charges.

Police allege the pair went to a Mac’s convenience store after breaking into the RCMP cruiser and got into an argument with a group of youths before firing the gun, Smyth said.

The girl was shot, although Smyth said investigators do not believe she was the intended target. There was another person in the car with the victim who had been talking to the shooter, Smyth said. Police believe the accused may have gang connections, but investigators haven’t linked the car’s occupants to any gangs.

“This was a senseless and reckless actions of the suspects. I can’t explain it,” he said, adding the police service would like to “extend our hopes and best wishes to the innocent victim, the 16-year-old girl.”

It’s a miracle she survived, a friend of the teen’s family told the Free Press.

“She nearly died,” said the woman, who didn’t want her name published. She said loved ones have been at the victim’s side around the clock and are optimistic about her chances for recovery. Family members declined interview requests.

“The focus has to be on her right now,” the friend said.

Detectives were able to find one of the accused barricaded in a home on Keenleyside Street in east Elmwood early Sunday. The man was arrested around 9 a.m. Sunday after an armed standoff. A second accused was arrested later that day.

Police found the stolen gun when they obtained warrants and searched the Keenleyside home, Smyth said.

“Detectives assigned to the major crimes unit worked exhaustively through the weekend and were relieved early Sunday morning to get some much-needed rest. I expect they’ll be back at it this morning to carry on,” he said, adding forensic and ballistic testing still needs to be done.

Smyth said Winnipeg police officers are not allowed to store their service weapons in unattended vehicles. The Mounties wouldn’t comment about the RCMP’s national policy on weapons storage Monday, citing the ongoing Winnipeg Police Service investigation. In an email, a Manitoba RCMP spokesman thanked the Winnipeg Police Service for “quickly tracking and securing the firearm that was stolen from a marked RCMP police vehicle.”

Manitoba’s Independent Investigation Unit was notified that an RCMP officer’s gun had been used in a shooting, but the unit said Monday the case doesn’t fall within its general mandate to investigate serious injuries, deaths or breach of federal or provincial laws caused by police officers.

Court records obtained by the Free Press show both accused have prior history with the courts.

Miles was convicted in September 2009 for an aggravated assault that occurred earlier that year. He was given a two-year prison sentence and 10-year weapons prohibition.

Weeks later, Miles pleaded guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking and three breaches of court orders. He was given four months behind bars and another decade-long weapons ban.

McKay pleaded guilty in November 2012 to assaulting his girlfriend and several breaches of court orders. He was sentenced to 169 days of time already served followed by 18 months of supervised probation. McKay was also given a lifetime weapons ban from previous legal issues.

During his sentencing hearing, defence lawyer Todd Bourcier said McKay’s biggest problem were alcohol abuse and hanging around with the wrong people. But he said the nearly six months spent behind bars at Milner Ridge had been a wakeup call for his client.

“He doesn’t want to be there, doesn’t want to be spending his life in and out of the institution,” said Bourcier, according to an audio transcript of the proceeding.

“That’s good to hear,” replied provincial court Judge Tim Preston. He urged McKay to get his troubled life on track.

“It sounds like this young man is certainly on the path to change,” the judge said at the time. “You’ve got huge potential, I know that. When you get out, it’s not cause to go get back into trouble. Certainly don’t listen to friends who are going to get you into trouble. You’re a teen. The world is yours.”

McKay spoke briefly in court, saying he wished to upgrade his Grade 10 education and find employment in the construction field.

“I just want to change my life, or whatever,” said McKay. He referenced a family member who had recently overdosed and said “I don’t want to go down his path.”

Both Miles and McKay are being held in custody without bail on the new charges.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

mike.mcintyre.freepress.mb.ca