Winnipeg police say they’re investigating a daytime “shotgun attack” at a home that sent three adults and a baby to hospital Sunday afternoon.
Someone entered the front door of the Flora Avenue home and fired a shotgun, at least one time and possibly more, said Const. Rob Carver to media in a nearby gas station parking lot.
Four people were struck, police said in an update released Sunday evening. The suspect then left the house and fled the area.
The three adults and infant were taken to hospital by ambulance. Two were initially in critical condition, Carver said.
Police did not release any details about the victims. CBC News has blurred their faces in these images.
All three adults were in stable condition by Sunday evening. The baby is expected to survive, but police said in a news release they couldn’t provide an update on the infant’s condition.
Emergency responders from Winnipeg police, fire and paramedic crews were called to the home just west of Salter Street at around 3:15 p.m. CT.
The shooting happened just down the street from Norbert McIvor’s home.
“It’s getting scary out there,” he said.
McIvor, who has lived in the area for two years, said the rising violence outside his door makes him think twice about leaving the house.
“I kiss my kids when I leave, just in case,” McIvor said.
“I just hope everyone’s safe out there. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, even in your own home.”
‘A stunning 18 hours’
Investigators have an idea of what may have led to the midday shooting, but Carver declined to comment.
“I think whenever there’s a fairly brazen event like this in broad daylight where you’ve got firearms being used … that’s certainly an avenue we want to pursue,” Carver said when asked if gangs were involved.
Carver said police are seeing increasing levels of violence, and officers are regularly stopping people with edged weapons and pulling guns off streets almost daily.
“We’re seeing more guns on the street, more violence, calls in general.
“It’s probably a stunning 18 hours. Overnight we had three homicides,” Carver said, including a 14-year-old who was stabbed and killed Saturday night at a Halloween party, putting the city at 36 homicides in 2019.
“This is one of the busiest days certainly I’ve seen in my memory,” Carver said.
“To have three homicides overnight is just about unheard of and now to have another shooting just hours after that, it’s incredibly busy. We only have so many officers that we can pull in,” he said.
Carver said police resources are strained due to the volume of severe incidents. Police will continue to triage all calls for service, and prioritize personal and public safety over property concerns and incidents where there is no immediate threat, reads a news release issued Sunday evening.
“It’s all hands on deck at this point,” Carver said.
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