Winnipeg man, 18, faces assault, weapons-related charges after 2 overnight break-ins: police

An 18-year-old man faces a number of charges after Winnipeg police say a group of people broke into two residences early Thursday, leaving one man shot and numerous others including small children affected by bear spray.

Officers were responding to a report of a shooting on the 400 block of Sherbrook Street, south ofSargent Avenue,around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday, when they found a man in his 50s injured outside of a residential building, a Saturday news release said.

The man was taken to hospital in critical condition and was later upgraded to stable. According to police, a group of people had forced their way into the man's suite before he was sprayed with bear spray and shot.

About an hour later, police responded to a report of a man with a gun on Westgrove Way, in the far west end of the city, south of Roblin Boulevard and close to the Perimeter Highway.

Bear spray had been used inside a house in the area, and numerous people, including "several small children," were affected but did not require medical attention, police said.

Police believe a group of people forced their way into the residence and pointed a firearm at a woman in her 30s, demanding property from her.

Officers who were still on Westgrove Way later Thursday noticed a man in the area shortly before 7 a.m. and tookhiminto custody, police say.

The 18-year-old man faces a variety of charges, including breaking and entering, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle.

He was detained. Both incidents remain under investigation, police say.

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