Police shot at in standoff
St. Vital home set on fire during incident, IIU investigating
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$1 per week for 24 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.75/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Winnipeg Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*$1 will be added to your next bill. After your 4 weeks access is complete your rate will increase by $0.00 a X percent off the regular rate.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/02/2024 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A man was taken to hospital after he allegedly opened fire on police during a standoff in St. Vital on Monday afternoon.
Officers were sent to a single-family bungalow on the first hundred block of Worthington Avenue regarding a man wanted on five outstanding warrants at about 12:23 p.m.
The Winnipeg Police Service said Tuesday that the man refused to open the door or speak with officers and fired a gun at them from inside the home. None of them were hit by the gunfire.
(John Woods / The Canadian Press files)
Members of the service’s heavily armed tactical support team were called in.
Smoke was seen coming from the home at about 2:30 p.m., and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was notified while officers continued to try to communicate with the man.
“A short time later, the male exited the home while disregarding police commands,” police said in a news release.
Officers with the tactical support team eventually fired “less-lethal munition” (bean bags) at the man. The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba said the man was hit with multiple rounds in his upper torso. The man suffered bruising to his torso, and the province’s police watchdog is investigating because of the injuries.
The man was taken into custody and transported to Health Sciences Centre for “minor injuries,” including smoke inhalation, police said. The WFPS said the man was transported in unstable condition.
Fire crews were sent to the scene at 2:32 p.m. and declared the fire under control at 3:08 p.m.
Police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said the man was the only person inside the home when the fire started.
“The fire is without a doubt suspicious in nature, but we’re still investigating,” Michalyshen said.
A 44-year-old man is facing charges related to the warrants and the incident but remains in hospital.
Nearby Victor Mager School was placed in a “hold and secure,” in which a school’s outside entrances are locked but classes continue as normal, as a precaution during the incident. Police posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, at 2:53 p.m. advising the public to avoid Worthington east of St. Mary’s Road but did not elaborate.
A man was charged earlier this month with firing at police in the first shooting of Winnipeg police officers in more than 15 years. Three members of the tactical support team were struck with pellets from a 12-gauge shotgun in an apartment block at 285 College Ave. during an armed standoff on Feb. 10.
“We’ve been dealing with some very volatile situations. Our members and members of the public have been put at risk, and it’s incredibly concerning for us,” Michalyshen said of the two recent shootings at police.
“We’re seeing a lot of individuals in a state of crisis… and when we see that in our community, we should all be alarmed by it.”
The IIU is asking witnesses or anyone with video of the incident to call 1-844-667-6060.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca
History
Updated on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 1:33 PM CST: Adds comment from WPS
Updated on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 2:00 PM CST: Adds statement from IIU
Updated on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 2:51 PM CST: Corrects which school was in "hold and secure"
Updated on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 3:43 PM CST: Revises both headlines