Winnipeg police shoot 21-year-old man at gas bar

A 21-year-old man was shot by Winnipeg police officers on Thursday night.

Police were called to the Domo gas bar at the corner of Wardlaw Avenue and Donald Street just before 9:30 p.m.

They were "confronted" by the man, which resulted in one of the officers discharging his firearm, a police news release stated.

The man, who police say is known to them, was struck in the upper body and transported to hospital in stable condition.

Police have not released any further information, but a Domo employee said the suspect was attempting to rob the gas station.

"It was a little crazy. It definitely doesn't happen often, of this magnitude anyway," said Dave Turcan, a night manager at Domo.

"We have robberies, but it's never ever serious."

He said a customer called police after coming upon a robbery in progress.

Turcan said an employee of the gas bar was "shaken up" but not hurt.

Blood could be seen inside the gas bar and on the concrete outside of it.

Police have not confirmed the incident was connected to a robbery, but said they are looking into that. 

The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave.

Winnipeg Police Det Sgt. Natalie Aiken said surveillance video and witness statements will paint a clearer picture of what happened. 

"We're very fortunate in this case that the suspect is the only one who was injured," she said. "I can tell you that this is what our officers train for. This is something that is not taken lightly each and every time they are making those decisions."

Jonathan Lesany, who lives nearby, told CBC that particular Domo is often targeted by thieves. He didn't see what happened but he did hear the gun go off.

"If it was just somebody running the Domo, I would feel so bad," he said. "But if it was a cop saving someone robbing the Domo, maybe that's a little bit better story." 

The province has created an independent investigation unit tasked with probing police matters, but it won't be up and running until next March.

• Police commission board announced

Recent police officer-involved shootings in Winnipeg

According to the police service's website, this is the first officer-involved shooting in 2014. There were none in 2013.

2012:

• Dec. 17: Police fired upon but did not injure a suspect involved in a commercial break and enter. 

2011: 

• July 21: Police shot a man suspected in the armed robbery of a cab driver near St. Mary's Road and Guay Avenue . He was taken to hospital in critical condition, and later upgraded to stable. 

2010:

• March 6: Police shot a 28-year-old man armed with a machete in the 600 block of Home Street.  The man died of his injuries. 
• May 9: Police shot a 42-year-old man as they responded to a beak and enter in the 100 block of Langside Street. The man died of his injuries. 
• July 4: Police shot at but did not injure a 22-year-old man after reports of a man brandishing a firearm.
• July 21: Police shot at a man after a gun call in the 500 block of Alexander Avenue. He escaped.
• Nov. 8: Police shot a 14-year-old male after reports of a stolen vehicle near Maryland Street and Portage Avenue. He was treated and released into custody.

In 2009:

• Feb. 26: Police shot a 24-year-old man in the 800 block of Ashburn Street after a woman was stabbed. The man was taken to hospital in stable condition. 
• July 24: Police shot a 27-year-old man as they executed a drug warrant in the 300 block of Mountain Avenue. The man was treated for non-life threatening injuries.