Winnipeg Officer Stabbed in Throat, Male Suspect Shot Dead, Police Say

A Winnipeg Police Service shoulder badge is seen on Sept. 2, 2021 at the Public Information Office. The Canadian Press/David Lipnowski

Police shot and killed a man outside a bus shelter near a Winnipeg shopping centre on Nov. 24 after police say he stabbed an officer in the throat.

Just after 5 p.m., an emergency transmission came into the police communication centre from the mall, reporting an officer had been stabbed and a male suspect had been shot, Winnipeg Acting Chief Art Stannard said during a Nov. 24 press conference.

Both the suspect and the injured officer were taken to the hospital. The suspect later died from his wounds, while the officer is recovering.

“I would say [the officer] is stable and most likely to be released,” Stannard said.

The officers involved were at the Unicity shopping centre in the city’s west end conducting a project under the service’s retail theft initiative, police said.

Stannard said there are videos circulating online showing police shooting the suspect, and expressed concerns that the videos only show part of the incident, which could lead to confusion and misinformation. He said the press conference was held to “put some details to the videos.”

“Our members do not come to work to take a life. They come to work to serve and protect the community. These are dedicated and committed police officers that take their oath very seriously,” he said.

The Independent Investigations Unit (IIU), the Manitoba police watchdog responsible for investigating incidents that result in serious injury or death, has taken over the investigation.

“I’m asking the public to let it play out, let IIU do their investigation and just wait for that before they make any judgments. That’s what I’m asking for,” Stannard said.

The Manitoba government has recently introduced legislation to regulate the retail sale of long-bladed knives, including machetes and swords, saying this would make it “harder” for individuals to purchase these items. Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said in an October press release that the measure aims to address “long-bladed weapon violence in the province.”

When asked if police are changing their enforcement strategies, Stannard said that police actions depend on the behaviour of individuals.

In an unrelated incident on Nov. 21, a suspect attempted to stab a Winnipeg police officer through the open window as the officer was exiting a vehicle in the Point Douglas area. The officer used the door as a shield, avoiding injury. Police had responded to a call about a man armed with a firearm and located the suspect nearby. The suspect, 28-year-old Tim Mason, was arrested, and police seized a knife and replica firearm.