Winnipeg police officers were justified when they shot and killed a suspect wielding a knife and a hatchet – after he allegedly stabbed an officer in the throat – at the Unicity shopping centre last November, according to Manitoba’s police watchdog.
The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) determined the officers were “reasonable in their actions” and will not be authorizing charges.
A quiet shopping plaza became the scene of a violent encounter on the evening of Nov. 24, 2024, when Winnipeg police were called by a loss prevention officer at a nearby Walmart about a man possibly stealing items from the store. Officers were already in the area as part of a retail theft initiative, speaking to staff and handing out business cards.
Police told the IIU they approached the possible shoplifter — a man dressed all in black and carrying a backpack — identified themselves and asked him to stop, but he ignored them and walked away. When an officer caught up to the man and grabbed his shoulder, telling him “you are under arrest,” the man reportedly punched the officer in the neck. The officer fell to the ground.
The officer got up, noticed the man was holding a knife and realized he was bleeding, according to IIU. The officers pulled out their guns.
The man retreated to a bus shelter and took out a hatchet, the IIU report says, and was holding a weapon in each hand. The officers directed the man to drop his weapons.
Two witnesses told Manitoba’s police watchdog the man was making “kissy faces” at the officers, with one witness describing the move as an attempt to mock police and instigate the situation.
When the man started moving towards the officers – something two witnesses also confirmed – they fired their weapons multiple times. The officer who was allegedly stabbed said he “feared grievous bodily harm.”
The scene of a fatal police shooting at Unicity parking lot on Nov. 25, 2024. (CityNews)
The man was placed in handcuffs and CPR was performed before paramedics arrived. One witness estimated it took four minutes before officers began life-saving measures. The man was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A toxicology report confirmed methamphetamine in his blood.
The officer was taken to Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg. He suffered a “vertical laceration” to his neck, but all major arteries were missed. The injury was glued shut.
The injured Winnipeg police officer’s neck. (Courtesy: IIU)
The scene identification report showed a hatchet and Exacto knife were found near the bus shelter. The backpack the man was carrying was found and contained a sealed Rapala fisherman’s fillet combo and two sealed Coghlan camp axes — items sold at Walmart. The hatchet recovered from the scene was also a Coghlan camp axe, according to IIU’s report.
The man’s backpack and its contents. (Courtesy: IIU)
A 24-second video clip of the incident posted to social media shortly after the shooting provided insight into what happened but also fuelled criticism — with critics saying the officers were heavy-handed and reactionary. Others called for body cameras to be adopted by the Winnipeg Police Service.
A second video, captured by a Winnipeg Transit bus, reportedly shows the moment the officer grabs the man; the struggle between the two; the man lunging at the officer; the officer falling to ground, then getting back up; and the officers aiming their weapons at the man. The bus leaves the shelter area before the shooting. That video was not available to the public.
