11-year-old bystander also hit by bullet in Red River Ex shooting that injured teen

There was a second victim in a shooting earlier this week at Winnipeg's big summer fair an 11-year-old boy.

A 16-year-old boywas rushed to hospitalin critical condition after he was shot at Red River Exhibition Park around 7 p.m. Monday. His conditionstabilizedthe next day, police said.

Major crimes unit investigators found out Tuesdaythatan 11-year-old boy who was a bystanderwas also hit by a bullet, police said in a news release on Thursday.

The boy, who didn't know the other people involved in the shooting,was with his mother when the bullet hit him in his lower body.

The boy's mother rushed him from the chaotic shooting scene to a hospital, where he was treated for a gunshot wound and released. Police were later notified.

The CEO of the Red River Ex said he was shocked to learn the young bystander was injured in addition to the teen previously reported.

"It's devastatingto think there's one bad thing and it'scompounded with one more," said Garth Rogerson.

"Very, very unfortunate for a young person, coming out to have fun and enjoy the evening andto have this happen to them."

Rogerson said he heard from police that only one shot was fired.

He said the 16-year-old victim worked at the Ex for an independent game operator.

Two 17-year-old boys and a 15-year-old girlwere already charged in connection with the shooting of the 16-year-old.

They have now been charged with an additional count of aggravated assault inconnection with the shooting of the 11-year-old, police said.

Previously, the15-year-old girl and one of the 17-year-old boyswere charged with firearm and assault-related offences, while the other 17-year-old boy was charged with aggravated assault and released.

All three are currently in custody.

The threewere found in ataxi in the Shaughnessy Heights area, nearTyndall Avenue and Burrows Avenue, just before 7:30 p.m. on Monday.Aloaded handgun was found with them, police said.

Gun likely tossed over fence: Ex

Rogerson said the Ex has beefed up security as a result of the shooting.

On Wednesday, fair organizers boosted the number of security guardsfor a usual weekdayfromapproximately 40 staffto nearly 60 guards.

As well, guards are now keeping continuous watch along the fence line.

Rogerson saida firearm wouldn't have made it past the front gate, since all bags are checked and all guestswaved over with a metal-detecting wand.

He said it'sbelieved an accomplice tossed ahandgun over the fence when security personnel, who would have been walking back and forth, weren't looking, Rogerson said.

Even before the shooting, the Ex made the choice of employing teams of two peopleto walk around the fairgrounds and look forsuspicious activity.

"We have guards specifically watching for that kind of activity," he said. "That was a weak spot in the whole thing and we've plugged that solid."

It's all part of a heightened security presence that Rogerson believesis worthwhile.

"We're stretching the capacityof the security companies, but we have to," he said.

"It is safe and it has to be safe. We've hadthousands of people come through the fair. There hasn't been any problemsexcept for this very unfortunate incident, and there will not be another one if I have anything to do with it."

Coun. Sherri Rollins, who is chair of protection for city council's executive policy committee, said she has been afraid a bystander would be hurtgiven the level of gun violence in the city this spring and summer.

"The last few weeks, there has been way too many gunshots," the Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry councillor said.

"The violence that we're seeing, I'm hearing from emergency rooms and more that they were very scared about this, so sadly, it was unfortunately something that was anticipated, and why I've been really strong in calling for change."

She wants to see more police officers step away from investigative duties to patrol the streets.

3 teens charged with shooting at Red River Ex

2 years ago

Duration 1:57

A 16-year-old boy was rushed to hospital in critical condition after he was shot at Red River Exhibition Park around 7 p.m. Monday. His condition stabilized the next day, police said. There was also a second victim an 11-year-old boy, who didn't know the other people involved in the shooting.