Manitoba’s police watchdog agency is examining a fatal officer-involved shooting in Fort Richmond that occurred on Sunday afternoon, according to Winnipeg police.
The incident unfolded on December 31 around 2:20 p.m. when officers responded to a call at an apartment suite in the first 100 block of University Crescent, reporting a man behaving erratically.
Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth, in a New Year’s Day news conference, stated, “Two officers were dispatched to the apartment to assist, and upon arrival, they encountered multiple people inside the suite, including a man armed with two knives.”
“Officers, moments later, were involved in a use of force encounter that resulted in the male being shot by one of our officers,” Smyth added.
Immediate emergency medical care was provided to the 19-year-old victim. Despite being rushed to the hospital in critical condition, he succumbed to his injuries. Two other individuals in the suite, a 21-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman, were unharmed.
Smyth mentioned that the deceased had a prior encounter with the police in July, where assistance was provided by offering him a ride. However, he had no other record with the police and no criminal history.
The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU), responsible for overseeing officer-related incidents, has taken charge of the case. The IIU will inform next-of-kin and disclose its findings to the public upon completion of the investigation.