Manitoba

Winnipeg man, 18, faces assault, weapons-related charges after 2 overnight break-ins: police

An 18 year old man from Winnipeg is facing a number of charges after police say a group of people broke into two residences early Thursday, leaving one man shot and many others — including small children — affected by bear spray.

1 man shot while numerous others, including children, affected by bear spray, police say

Winnipeg police black and white car parked on street.
Officers were still near the location of the second incident when they spotted the 18-year-old man, who has now been charged in connection to the break-ins and assaults, police say. (CBC)

An 18-year-old man faces a number of charges after Winnipeg police say a group of people broke into two residences early Thursday, leaving one man shot and numerous others — including small children — affected by bear spray.

Officers were responding to a report of a shooting on the 400 block of Sherbrook Street, south of Sargent Avenue, around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, when they found a man in his 50s injured outside of a residential building, a Saturday news release said.

The man was taken to hospital in critical condition and was later upgraded to stable. According to police, a group of people had forced their way into the man's suite before he was sprayed with bear spray and shot.

About an hour later, police responded to a report of a man with a gun on Westgrove Way, in the far west end of the city, south of Roblin Boulevard and close to the Perimeter Highway. 

Bear spray had been used inside a house in the area, and numerous people, including "several small children," were affected but did not require medical attention, police said.

Police believe a group of people forced their way into the residence and pointed a firearm at a woman in her 30s, demanding property from her.

Officers who were still on Westgrove Way later Thursday noticed a man in the area shortly before 7 a.m. and took him into custody, police say.

The 18-year-old man faces a variety of charges, including breaking and entering, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle.

He was detained. Both incidents remain under investigation, police say.

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