Man shot by police near Kenaston Boulevard dies in hospital: reports

A man shot several times by Winnipeg police on Fridayfollowing a wild chase that involved dozens of cruisershas died in hospital, according to news reports.

The shooting occurrednearKenastonBoulevard and Grant Avenue around 1:15 p.m. CT, about 45 minutes after the chase began.

CBC News has learned that the man, who has not been identified by police, was seen waving a gun while driving.

"This is the worst-case scenario," Const. JasonMichalyshentold reporters near the scene."No officer getsup in the morning and wants to be involved in such an event, but this is what's presented to us now."

Michalyshensaid that as far as he knows, no officers were injured.

"Right now our focus is to determine exactly what took place, what led up to this incident," he said.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba,which investigates all serious incidents involving police officers in the province,has been notified of the incident.

Investigators with the IIU have been sent to the scene, the unit said in a news release.

'It's just unbelievable,' says witness

A number of people in the area witnessed theshooting, which happened near Lipsett Hall at the former Kapyong Barracks military site.

Brian Kreitz said he saw about 30 police cars surrounding a white vehicle outside the hall after speeding down Kenaston toward Grant.

"A white man with black hair, black jacket got out [and] started walking around his vehicle very nervously, had hishand in his jacket pocket, inside his jacket, started to pull his hand out of his jacket. And I'd have to say 10 to 12 police officers just rapid-fire opened up, and that was it," he said.

"It was just, 'Bang, bang, bang' all at the same time. It's just like a movie; it's just unbelievable. Like, it just wasn't one shot. It sounded [like] at least 10, all at the same time."

MeghanDuffy captured cellphonevideo of the police cars chasing a white Audi at around 1 p.m.

"It was very intense. You never know what things are going to be like until you're in a situation. But yeah, my heart was pounding," she said.

"It got to the point where there [were] so many police officers behind us with their lights on, we didn't know if we should go right or we should go left. So we kind of just stopped, and the police just went flying past us, like over the boulevard, over the curb."

RAW: Winnipeg police chase armed suspect (video courtesy Meghan Duffy)

9 years ago

Duration 2:06

Dozen police cars have chased a vehicle to Grant Avenue and Kenaston Boulevard near the former Kapyong Barracks

Duffy said the Audidrove up onto the boulevard on Kenaston,nearly hitting three people.

Two of the people who were nearly struck appeared to be police officers, and they had to jump into oncoming traffic to get out of harm's way, sheadded.

CBC videographer John Einarsonsaid he saw two ambulances leave the scene with their lights and sirens on.

Rady Centre briefly evacuated

The Rady Jewish Community Centre on Doncaster Street was briefly evacuated during the incident. A witness told CBC News thatstaff came through the building around 12:50 p.m., telling people to leave immediately.

Jennifer Moncreiff said she was using some exercise equipment when the centre's director of fitness came into the workout area and said, "Move it, move it this is not a drill."

People gathered on the street outside. There was talk among centre patrons that a man with a gun was somewhere in the vicinity and the facility had been evacuated as a safety precaution.

People were allowed back into the building a short time later,Moncreiff said.

Recent police shootings

The latest incident comes less than two months after Winnipeg police were involved in a shooting that killed 44-year-old Haki Sefa on Highway 59 north of the city. The Independent Investigation Unit is also investigating that case.

• Man killed in Winnipeg police-involved shooting was suicidal, family says
• Gun at Winnipeg police-involved shooting scene was loaded
• Nova Scotia official to oversee probe into Haki Sefa death, police shooting

Other shootings involving Winnipeg police in recent years include:

2014:

• June 19: A man who allegedly tried robbing aDomogas bar at WardlawAvenue and Donald Street confronted police just before 9:30 p.m. He was struck in the upper body and transported to hospital in stable condition.

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 break 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.

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.