Winnipeg police fatally shoot man holding weapon after brother calls for help

WINNIPEG – Manitoba’s police watchdog says it’s investigating after an officer fatally shot a man brandishing an edged weapon.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba says the 42-year-old man’s brother called 911 to their Winnipeg home on Monday night.

The brother reported that the man was behaving erratically, had mental health issues and was not taking his prescribed medication.

Police say that about 10 minutes after they arrived, the man came out of the home, confronted them with the weapon and an officer shot the man.

Deputy Chief George Labossière says the man was taken to hospital in critical condition and later died.

He says it wasn’t suitable to have the city’s mental health crisis unit called in, as the situation seemed to be escalating.

Winnipeg’s Alternative Response to Citizens in Crisis program pairs a plain-clothed officer with a specialized mental health clinician.

“We never want to put our civilian members in positions that might present violence of any kind,” Labossière said Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2026.