The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) has concluded its investigation into an officer-involved shooting that occurred on January 28, 2022, in Winnipeg.
On January 29, 2022, Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) notified the IIU about an incident that occurred at approximately 11 p.m., in the parking lot of Siloam Mission. According to the notification, officers responded to a report of a fight in progress. Upon arrival, officers came across a male who had been stabbed and a male suspect at the scene. A use of force encounter ensued with the male suspect, resulting in one officer discharging their service pistol. The male was transported to Health Sciences Centre with one gunshot wound to his head and one gunshot wound to his hip.
As any injury caused by the discharge of a firearm by a police officer is defined as a serious injury, the IIU was mandated to investigate. Investigators were assigned and reviewed:
- WPS investigative summary report;
- WPS officers’ notes and narratives;
- officers’ supplementary reports;
- audio recordings of WPS radio communications;
- Forensic Identification Service reports;
- photographs of exhibits;
- multiple video surveillance recordings;
- enhanced video surveillance recordings; and
- medical reports concerning the affected person.
The WPS officer who discharged the firearm was designated as the subject officer, and four WPS officers who were on the scene were designated as witness officers. IIU investigators interviewed the four WPS officers and met with the affected person. However, due to his level of competency, he was unable to participate in any interviews. IIU investigators also met with and interviewed three civilian witnesses, including a member of the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service.
The IIU investigation determined that the affected person was armed with a knife, had been observed repeatedly stabbing another male, refused to comply with verbal directions to drop the knife and became involved with another police officer while swinging the knife at the officer. Fearing that the affected person could have delivered a potentially lethal injury, the subject officer discharged his service pistol, striking the affected person several times.
The civilian director concluded that no reasonable grounds exist to charge the subject officer, and no charges will be authorized against him. Accordingly, the IIU has completed its investigation and the matter is now closed.
The civilian director’s report on this matter will be made available following the disposition of charges arising out of this incident.
The details of the investigation were first announced on January 31, 2022.
