Two shot outside city hotel where evacuees are staying

Police are investigating after two males were shot Tuesday outside an Ellice Avenue hotel that is housing wildfire evacuees.

Officers were sent to the 1800 block of Ellice Avenue, where two people were found with gunshot wounds, at 2:42 p.m.

Police gave the males, ages 18 and 16, first aid before they were taken to hospital in unstable condition.

One remained in unstable condition Wednesday afternoon and was awaiting surgery, while the other has been upgraded to stable. The injuries are not considered life threatening.

The shooting occurred near the Airport Motor Inn, the Free Press has confirmed.

Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson Const. Stephen Spencer said the incident happened outside and on hotel property.

He confirmed there are evacuees staying at the hotel but wouldn’t say if the shooting victims were evacuees.

Spencer said there are additional police units patrolling areas around evacuation centres and hotels where evacuees are staying.

“I know that there has been investigations specifically around the areas where evacuees are being housed because of reports of drug dealers targeting evacuees,” he said Wednesday.

Last week, police charged two men who allegedly sold cocaine outside hotels where wildfire evacuees are staying, highlighting concerns that displaced Manitobans could be exploited or targeted.

Police asked anyone who witnessed the shooting or has related video to call the major crimes unit at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS).