The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) has concluded its investigation into the death of a male suspect discovered following a Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) following an officer-involved shooting.

According to the notification received on April 18, 2020, the WPS advised two male suspects had assaulted an individual at the rear of a residence on Adsum Drive. Officers, including a K-9 handler, responded and encountered two males. One adult male, later identified as the affected person (AP), was shot in the chest after being confronted. A youth male was taken into custody.

As this matter concerned the death of a person that resulted from the actions of a police officer, the IIU assumed responsibility for this mandatory investigation and a civilian monitor was appointed. A team of IIU investigators was assigned to the investigation. One WPS officer was identified as the subject officer (SO), three WPS officers were designated as witness officers and three civilian witnesses were identified. In addition, information obtained by IIU investigators included:

  • investigative summary completed by WPS homicide officers
  • Forensic Identification Service (FIS) reports and photographs
  • computer aided dispatch (CAD) report
  • audio recording of 911 calls
  • call histories
  • audio recording of WPS radio transmissions
  • narrative reports and notes of WPS officers
  • video recorded statements of various civilian witnesses
  • physical evidence seizures, including the discharged WPS service firearm
  • pathology report
  • WPS policy on use of service firearms
  • subject officer’s use of force training file
  • subject officer’s firearm qualification reports
  • expert opinion on use of force report

In this investigation, the IIU’s mandate was to determine if there should be consequences to the actions of the subject officer, in light of all the circumstances and information known to him at that time. Following a detailed review of this IIU investigation and file material, MPS has advised that they are not satisfied there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction of SO and therefore there are no grounds to justify any charges against SO for his use of lethal force.

On November 30, 2021, the civilian director met with the family of the affected person as well as representatives of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) to review the findings of this investigation.