Man arrested after two people stabbed at Winnipeg Walmart

City police have a suspect in custody after two people were stabbed during a fight at a Walmart supercentre on Empress Street Wednesday night.

Officers responded to reports of the stabbing in the 1000 block of Empress Street and found two men with injuries who required hospitalization. Both are currently listed in stable condition, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Thursday.

Investigators learned a man had entered the department store around 6:10 p.m. and allegedly concealed several items of clothing underneath his jacket. As the man was leaving the store, he spotted two men, aged 34 and 41, who were previously known to him, police said.

The encounter sparked a verbal dispute, and the suspect grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher and sprayed the two men before emptying the remainder of the extinguisher about the store. The fight spilled into the parking lot and escalated when somebody produced a knife. The two men were stabbed, and the suspect fled in a vehicle.

At 11:13 p.m., patrolling officers spotted the suspect’s vehicle near Alfred Avenue and Salter Street and conducted a traffic stop. They arrested the man and seized a knife, WPS said.

A 27-year-old man is charged with aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon, mischief over $5,000 and theft under $5,000.

Police continue to investigate, and have asked anyone with information, including video footage, to contact the major crimes unit at at 204-986-6219 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers 204-786-TIPS or online.