On February 19, 2023, between 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., the Winnipeg Police Service responded to multiple assault incidents involving two male suspects and several victims in the City's West End and Downtown areas.
Incident Synopsis:
- At approximately 9:50 a.m., Central District General Patrol officers attended Portage Avenue and Sherbrook Street for the report of a male who two male suspects had assaulted. The suspects fled on foot before police arrived. Officers located a 30-year-old victim suffering from the effects of bear spray. Winnipeg Fire Paramedics personnel on scene treated and medically cleared the victim.
- At approximately 10:00 a.m., Central District General Patrol officers, assisted by members of the Tactical Support Team, attended the 300 block of Langside Street for the report of a female who two male suspects had assaulted. Officers located a 24-year-old victim suffering from an upper-body injury and the effects of bear spray. The victim was transported to hospital and received treatment for her injury.
- At approximately 12:45 p.m., Central District General Patrol officers attended Colony Square at St. Mary Avenue for the report of a male who two male suspects had assaulted. Officers located a 33-year-old male suffering from the effects of bear spray. The victim did not require medical assistance.
(Officers responded to a fourth incident at approximately 7:30 a.m. on the same morning, where two suspects were observed chasing two victims with unknown weapons. The victims have yet to come forward; however, the suspects' descriptions provided are believed to be related to the other incidents.)
Multiple units, including officers from Foot Patrol Units, Tactical Support Team, and Major Crimes Unit, were deployed during these incidents in a coordinated effort to locate the suspects; however, they remain outstanding.
The Major Crimes Unit has assumed the investigation and believes the incidents mentioned above to be related due to similarities in the suspect description and the narrow timeline and geographical location of the incidents.
The suspects are described as follows:
- Adult males, skinny builds, approximately 20 years of age, between 5'6" and 5'8 in height, both wearing black hooded bomber jackets wearing black/blue jeans
We remind the public the suspects are considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Members of the public are urged to call 911 in the case of an emergency.
The Major Crimes Unit continues the investigation. Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).