WARNING: This story details the violent events surrounding the fatal police shooting of a man in a Winnipeg shopping area.
Police shot and killed a man outside a bus shelter in a shopping area on the west side of Winnipeg on Sunday after they say he stabbed an officer in the throat.
The police officer, a senior member of the force, is in stable condition, police said.
Video posted to social media shows two police officers with guns pointed at a man standing just outside a bus shelter in the Unicity Shopping Centre parking lot off Portage Avenue.
The officers are heard yelling “put it down” and “drop it” as the man walks toward them. Seconds later, they discharge their firearms.
“We are aware of videos online and we caution the public that they do not show the entire incident,” acting police chief Art Stannard said at a news conference late Sunday evening.
“Our officers do not come to work to take a life. They come to work to serve and protect the community.”
Winnipeg police shot and killed a man outside a bus shelter in the Unicity shopping area Sunday after police say he stabbed an officer in the throat. Video shared widely on social media shows two officers shooting a man outside the shelter. Acting police chief Art Stannard says it only shows part of the interaction.
Stannard said he’s concerned that videos circulating on social media only show “part of the interaction” and not what transpired before police opened fire.
He said the officers involved were in the area carrying out a “project” as part of the retail theft initiative.
The man drew an edged weapon and was told to drop it multiple times, police said. He didn’t, and police shot him, they said.
“CPR was given to the injured male by police, including that injured police officer,” Stannard said. “They were both conveyed to hospital.”
He said the suspect was pronounced dead and the officer is being treated for throat injuries and is expected to be released.
“I had the opportunity to go and see him when he was being treated. His wife was there — very emotional,” Stannard said.
Manitoba’s police watchdog, the Independent Investigation Unit, was notified and has taken over the investigation.
Stannard said he would like the public to await judgment from the police watchdog before casting opinions on what happened.
Jessica Esau was in her vehicle, waiting for a food order with her youngest child, when she saw police shoot the man.
“Scariest situation ever,” Esau said via Facebook.
An estimated 30 police cars, multiple ambulances and at least one fire truck converged on an area near a bus shelter, according to other videos posted after 5:30 p.m. CT on Sunday.
Only a few police cars were still there at 6 p.m.
An area around the bus shelter was taped off by police, with several orange pylons placed inside the area.
A massive police presence took over a Walmart parking in front of a bus shelter in Winnipeg’s Unicity on Sunday night. CBC has reached out to city police for more details.
