Winnipeg man arrested after allegedly shooting firearm twice in the air

A Winnipeg Police Service shoulder patch is seen in Winnipeg, Sept. 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

A man is now facing seven charges after allegedly shooting a sawed-off shotgun twice in the air in North Point Douglas.

Shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Winnipeg police were called to the area of Main Street and Euclid Avenue after a report about a man with a firearm was made.

Officers found him standing in a yard in the 200 block of Austin Street and arrested him. Police said they found a loaded, sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun hidden on him and seized it as evidence.

According to police, the man was walking with a group of people when he took his shotgun out, allegedly randomly firing it twice in the air. He then hid the shotgun and walked towards Austin Street, police said.

The 23-year-old man is now facing several firearms-related charges and a failure to comply with release order conditions charge. He was detained in custody.

No charges have been tested in court.