Friends remember man shot by police, 'He's a really nice guy. Top to bottom'

Mark Dicesare, 24, of Winnipeg, was shot by police Friday afternoon. (Source: Instagram)

Winnipeg police have identified the man shot by officers in a deadly confrontation Friday afternoon as Mark Dicesare, 24, of Winnipeg.

Saturday, friends remembered Dicesare as outgoing, gregarious and friendly.

"He's a really nice guy. Top to bottom,” said friend Madison Polowy. “Everyone will say he's a really nice guy. I don't know what else to say."

Originally from the Ottawa area, friends say Dicesare worked in the Alberta oil patch, had a long-time girlfriend and took great pride in his physical fitness.

"I'm handling it alright. Definitely don't like hearing stuff like this happening to our friends,” said Polowy. “All of our friends are kind of down right now. It's something that should have never happened."

Early Friday afternoon Winnipeg police chased a white Audi sedan into a field at Grant Avenue and Kenaston Boulevard.

After a lengthy standoff, witnesses say the driver got out and began pacing back and forth.

Police wouldn’t say what prompted officers to open fire or why the pursuit began in the first place.

"For me to get into any more detail really starts to get directly involved in the investigation,” said Deputy Chief Danny Smyth. “It's fair for me to say that erratic behaviour drew our attention, but I can't comment further.”

More than 24 hours after the shooting, 19 Winnipeg police vehicles remained behind yellow tape as the Independent Investigations Unit continued its work.

"At least 25 officers were involved in the incident,” said Deputy Chief Smyth. “All of them have met with IIU investigators. At the present time, five officers have been identified as directly involved officers."

Smyth says the officers directly involved are now in a critical incident process that includes the independent investigation and also health and well-being assessments. As of Saturday, the officers were on leave of absence.

Dicesare’s friends are also dealing with their own emotional trauma.

"I was really shocked. I couldn't believe this happened,” said Polowy. “I don't know why it would happen like this."

Because Dicesare has now died from his injuries, the IIU has requested a civilian monitor be assigned as it tries to piece together what happened.