Suspect dead following St. James shooting: Winnipeg police

Gunshots rang out in St. James as a suspect allegedly took hostages inside a random home. CTV’s Harrison Shin reports.

A suspect from Friday’s St. James neighbourhood shooting died, Winnipeg police say.

In a media release on Saturday, police say at 10:27 a.m. on Friday, members of the Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Unit tried to stop a vehicle while actively searching for the driver – who had outstanding warrants and was reported to allegedly possess a firearm.

Police say the suspect evaded police by ramming cruisers and driving off.

Several minutes later, officers found him walking in the King Edward neighbourhood. Police tried to arrest the suspect, but he allegedly ran away and broke into a home in the 400 block of King Edward Street.

The force said once the man was inside, he pointed a firearm at officers through a window and police discharged their firearm. Tactical team, K9 and other support units were called.

At 11:09 a.m., a man ran out of the house and told officers that two teenaged girls were held hostage by the armed suspect.

Winnipeg police activated armed and barricaded protocol. One of the hostages was rescued through a main floor window – but the other hostage was still trapped inside with the man, police said. A fire was allegedly set inside the home and the situation escalated.

The tactical team members entered the home and rescued the last hostage. After, the suspect left the home while allegedly brandishing a firearm. Officers then discharged their firearms again, shooting the suspect.

The 34-year-old man died from his injuries. The fire was extinguished and the scene was secured.

In a media conference on Friday afternoon, Const. Pat Saydak said the situation was “highly volatile and fluid.”

“These brave officers were able to deal with a very volatile and dangerous situation, de-escalate it, and they ultimately saved the lives of three hostages,” he said.

Several people at the scene described hearing gunshots during the situation.

“I heard two bursts of gunfire, probably about a dozen shots altogether,” nearby resident Elisha Dacey told CTV News on Friday. “I didn’t see it. I don’t know if there was an exchange, but there were lots of shots.”

Witness Sherry Lukianchuk said, “The officers yelled at us to get inside, and we ran inside a building and we heard several shots. We could see police officers carrying large guns and stuff, walking down the street.”

No citizens or officers were injured during the incident, police said. The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba took over the investigation.