In the early hours of December 15, 2023, the Winnipeg Police Service initiated a pursuit of a stolen vehicle involved in an earlier violent carjacking of a 23-year-old male victim from the 500 block of Corydon Avenue.
At approximately 8:36 p.m. on December 14, 2023, the victim was exiting a vehicle at the address mentioned above when an adult male suspect approached him with his face partially concealed while brandishing a handgun. The suspect demanded the keys to the vehicle and the victim’s personal property. A physical struggle ensued, during which the suspect discharged the firearm, narrowly missing the victim and striking the vehicle. The suspect fled in the stolen vehicle, and the victim contacted police.
At approximately 12:25 a.m., Central General Patrol officers observed the stolen vehicle being operated near Sherbrook Street and Ellice Avenue. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle; however, it fled at a high speed, disregarding the rules of the road and endangering members of the general public.
With the assistance and visual containment provided by the Flight Operations Unit (Air 1), Central and North District General Patrol along with Central Community Support officers tracked the vehicle to a surface parking lot in the 700 block of Watt Street, where the suspect was safely taken into custody. No injuries were reported due to the carjacking and subsequent twenty-minute pursuit. Officers seized a folding knife and approximately 37 grams of Cocaine (Estimated Street Value = $1,500) from the suspect. The firearm was not recovered.
The suspect and the victim were not previously known to one another.
Ricardo Miguel GOMES, 34, of Winnipeg, has been charged with the following offences:
- Armed Robbery using a Firearm
- Discharge a Firearm with Intent
- Pointing a Firearm
- Disguise with Intent
- Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in Motor Vehicle
- Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized x 2
- Possession of a Prohibited Device or Ammunition Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized x 2
- Possession of Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order x 6
- Flight While Pursued by Peace Officer
- Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance
- Possession of a Scheduled Substance
- Fail to Comply with Probation Order x 6
He was detained in custody.