On September 2, 2025, around 5:15 p.m., as part of a Winnipeg Police Service strategy to combat violent retail theft, officers from the West District were proactively monitoring a Unicity retail hub when they were flagged down about an armed robbery that was in progress inside the store.
The officers rushed into a store (in the 3600 block of Portage Avenue) and apprehended two suspects, including one still armed with a gun. Nobody was injured and two other suspects were arrested outside the store a short distance away.
The youths were turned over to the Major Crimes Unit who continued the investigation.
After speaking to witnesses and with the assistance of video surveillance, investigators determined that four teens entered a large retail store, taking backpacks from the shelves, and filling them with merchandise.
Making no attempt to pay, they moved toward the exit. On-site security tried to stop them and took hold of one of the suspects. At that point, another suspect pulled out a handgun, pointed it at security, and demanded the first suspect be released. The armed suspect fired the gun at the security personnel, narrowly missing his head, and the group began to disperse.
The gun was determined to be a C02 propelled airgun.
A 13-year-old male was charged with the following offences:
- Armed Robbery Using a Firearm
- Use of Imitation Firearm During Commission of an Indictable Offence
- Assault with a Weapon
- Possession of a Weapon
A 13-year-old female was charged with the following offences:
- Armed Robbery Using a Firearm
A 15-year-old female was charged with the following offences:
- Armed Robbery Using a Firearm
- Warrant: Fail to Comply with Sentence Order x 5
- Warrant: Fail to Comply with Release Order
- 2 Warrants: Theft Under $5,000
- Warrant: Fail to Comply with Sentence Order
A 17-year-old male was charged with the following offences:
- Armed Robbery Using a Firearm
- Fail to Comply with Sentence Order x 2
- Warrant: Fail to Comply with Sentence Order x 3
All four were detained in youth custody.