14-year-old boy charged in daytime shooting as police investigate gang activity in William Whyte area

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Charges laid in brazen shooting

'Very rattling’: Arrest made in brazen shooting

A 14-year-old boy is facing several charges after police say he was involved in a brazen daytime shooting in Winnipeg’s William Whyte neighbourhood.

According to police, officers were called to the area of McKenzie Street and Manitoba Avenue around 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 for reports of shots fired.

Police say two boys, along with several unknown suspects, visited a home in the 600 block of Manitoba Avenue. One of the suspects allegedly opened fire on the home and was met with returning gunfire from someone inside.

In video footage shared with CTV News of the incident, at least five gunshots could be heard.

The footage showed two people, including one with a firearm, running from McKenzie Street onto Manitoba Avenue. Next, two loud shots were then heard, and another two roughly 20 seconds later.

That’s when the person with the firearm and two other people are seen helping each other quickly walk back to McKenzie Street.

Another shot rang out, and the person with the firearm appeared to drop their weapon. The person then quickly picked the gun back up and ran further down McKenzie Street.

Officers said they found a victim, who is also one of the young suspects, suffering from a gunshot wound in the 600 block of Pritchard Avenue. He was taken to hospital in unstable condition, but later upgraded to stable.

Shortly after, police arrested the other young suspect near Flora Avenue and McKenzie Street. A firearm was found nearby.

The 14-year-old boy has been charged with two firearm-related offences, as well as possessing property obtained by crime under $5,000.

One week after the incident, members of the Winnipeg Police Service’s Guns and Gangs Unit launched an investigation in response to the ongoing drug trafficking and gang activity in the neighbourhood.

On Thursday just before 6 p.m., investigators searched the Manitoba Avenue home as they believed it was a hotspot for gang activity. One person was taken into custody and several items were seized, including a shotgun, drug paraphernalia, five rounds of shotgun shells, and around 25 rounds of .22 ammunition.

A 61-year-old man is facing several firearm and weapon-related charges. He was released on an undertaking.

The charges haven’t been tested in court.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit or Crime Stoppers.

- With files from CTV’s Taylor Brock