Winnipeg police say a man took three teens hostage inside a St. James home on Friday, leading to an ‘exchange of gunfire’ as officials tried to arrest him.
Officers with Manitoba’s integrated violent offender apprehension unit found out a man wanted on an outstanding warrant was in the area and went there to arrest him, Const. Pat Saydak said at a news conference on Friday.
Police chased the man, he said. Then, the man broke into a random home on King Edward Street, between St. Matthews and Silver avenues, and “shots were exchanged,” Saydak said.
Police said the man took three people hostage inside.
Police say they believe the hostages are teenagers, based on information they have at this point.
Two of the hostages were rescued after members of the police service’s tactical team arrived, Saydak said. While the third hostage was being rescued, officials noticed the house was on fire.
There was an “exchange of gunfire” when the man went out the back door and “confronted police,” Saydak said.
The man was placed into custody and given emergency first aid before he was taken to the hospital.
“His injuries and his health status are currently unknown,” Saydak said.
The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba — which examines all serious incidents involving police officers in the province — is investigating. A provincial government spokesperson said in an email that the unit does not comment on active investigations.
Neither police nor the IIU would confirm whether the suspect suffered gunshot wounds or if police shot him.
None of the hostages or police officers were hurt, and the fire was extinguished, he said.
Traffic on King Edward will be closed between St. Matthews and Silver avenues for several hours, police said in a social media post.
Sherry Lukianchuk said she saw police in tactical gear carrying guns on Silver near King Edward.
“We could see police officers carrying large guns and stuff, and walking up and down the street,” she said.
She also saw a “girl running from the home, with police officers and several gunshots afterwards.”
Lukianchuk said witnessing the scene had her on edge.
“I’m pretty scared and nervous because there’s a lot of things [that have] been going on in our neighbourhood,” she said.
“Normally, this is a pretty quiet neighbourhood.”
Elisha Dacey, who lives nearby, said St. James is “pretty safe” but “there are some problematic houses on Berry and on King Edward.”
She also said she heard gunshots around noon.
“I heard two bursts of gunfire — probably about a dozen shots all together. I didn’t see it. I don’t know if there was an exchange, but there was lots of shots,” Dacey said.
