Two teenagers were rescued by Winnipeg police after a man wanted on outstanding warrants allegedly took them hostage in their home, leading to a standoff that ended in gunfire.
On May 29, police were attempting to arrest the 34-year-old fugitive, who has not been identified, when he ran off. He then broke into a house in the 400 block of King Edward Street and took hostages, according to the Winnipeg Police Service.
Police had been pursuing the man after he rammed their vehicle and drove off when they attempted to perform a traffic stop on him at around 10:27 a.m., according to a May 30 news release.
Police say the man, who had outstanding warrants and was reported to have been in possession of a firearm, had been driving a vehicle that was later confirmed as stolen.
After a pursuit on foot, the man broke into the house on King Edward Street and pointed a firearm at police through a window, at which point police discharged their firearm. Another man emerged from the house at 11:09 a.m. and indicated that the suspect was holding two teenage female residents hostage.
“One of the teens was rescued through a main floor window, however, the other teen remained trapped inside with the suspect. The situation escalated as a fire was set inside the residence,” the release said.
Members of the tactical team then entered the residence and rescued the other teenager. The fugitive then attempted to escape through the back door of the residence while holding a weapon. Police fired on the man and he later “succumbed to his injuries.”
Police said the man was given first aid and taken to hospital.
“There were no injuries to any of the hostages or the police,” Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson Pat Saydak said during a press conference on May 29.
“The fire was successfully extinguished, and the house was secure, and the Independent Investigation Unit was notified as per protocol with any serious incident in Winnipeg, and they have assumed the investigation.”
Saydak did not give specific information on the timeline of events, saying only that it was a “dynamic situation that was fluid and running in a very short amount of time.”
Members of the Tactical Support Team, K9 unit, general patrol officers from West and North District, and Drone Unit were all involved in the response to the hostage situation, the release said.
“They were dealing with a highly volatile and fluid situation. These brave officers were able to deal with a very volatile and dangerous situation, de-escalated, and they ultimately saved the lives of … hostages,” Saydak said.
Police had initially reported that three hostages were involved, which was updated to two in the May 30 news release.
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