Repeat Offender Bulletin #4: Bear Spray and Shotgun Arrests Didn’t Stop Bail for Zipgun Shooter

Released: October 8, 2025 at 2:16 p.m.
Testimony before House of Commons Justice Committee postponed until later this month

Mayor Scott Gillingham today released his fourth Repeat Offender Bulletin, sharing another real-world example of how Canada’s bail system continues to allow violent offenders back onto Winnipeg’s streets.

The case involves a repeat offender with a long history of weapons-related offences, including incidents involving a machete and a hammer, who continued to reoffend in 2021 with increasingly dangerous behaviour.

Early that year, the individual was arrested for breaching probation and released the same day. In the spring, they were arrested after riding in a taxi while carrying a shotgun, and again released on bail just six days later. That summer, they were arrested for assault with bear spray, and once more granted bail.

All three of these releases were over objections from the Winnipeg Police Service.

The cycle of violence ended only after the offender fired an improvised firearm (“zip gun”) into a street, striking a car driven by a case worker who had just rescued a vulnerable missing person found with the offender. The individual was finally held in custody and later convicted.

“If bail had been denied after the first arrest in that cycle, at least two violent incidents involving weapons could have been prevented,” said Mayor Gillingham. “This case shows again why reform is needed to keep repeat violent offenders off the streets and protect the public.”

Joint Warrant Unit Making an Impact

Since its launch earlier this year, the joint warrant unit between the Winnipeg Police Service and the RCMP has arrested hundreds of high-risk violent offenders. Four out of every five were already free on bail, probation, or parole at the time of their arrest.

Justice Committee Appearance Postponed

Mayor Gillingham was scheduled to testify before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights this week to advocate for bail reform, but his appearance has been rescheduled to October 21st.

Members of the public who wish to share their views on bail reform are encouraged to send a respectful note to the federal Minister of Justice, Sean Fraser, at mcu@justice.gc.ca.

Video link - https://youtu.be/8GG2AzohJCY

Mayor's Office

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