On May 22, 2024, at approximately 8:55 am, Gypsumville RCMP responded to a report of a male having been shot with an airsoft gun on Highway 6, located near Strong Lake. 

Media Release - May 30, 2024

As officers were responding to the call, information was received that several employees from Manitoba Hydro had stopped at the scene and provided first aid to the victim, kept him warm and placed numerous traffic cones in order to provide emergency services personnel a clearly marked area to safely work in due to the heavy volume of traffic.

Officers arrived on scene and located a 27-year-old male, from Winnipeg, with a non-life-threatening injury that required medical aid. The victim was transported to hospital, where he was treated and released.

Investigators have learned that the 27-year-old male was contacted by a friend of his, an 18-year-old female, whose vehicle needed a boost on Highway 6. The victim, along with another 27-year-old male, attended the scene and assisted in getting the vehicle started.

Once the vehicle was started, two males exited from the vehicle which had just been boosted, both armed with airsoft firearms, and demanded money and cell phone from the two victims.

The victims entered their own vehicle and attempted to back away from the scene and while doing so were shot at by both suspects, injuring the one victim. No property had been taken.

The 18-year-old female, along with the two males, entered their vehicle and fled the scene.

Officers from nearby detachments, along with assistance from the Emergency Response Team (ERT), were contacted as the suspect vehicle was reported to be driving south on Highway 6 at a high rate of speed.

The suspect vehicle was subsequently abandoned in a field with the two male suspects fleeing on foot. The 18-year-old female remained near her vehicle and called 911 as she was unaware of the planned robbery.

With the assistance of Police Service Dog Jolt, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and ERT, the two male suspects were tracked into a wooded area and arrested without incident.

The two males, a 17-year-old from Selkirk and a 16-year-old from Winnipeg, were remanded into custody on charges including Assault Causing Bodily Harm, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Flight from Police, Robbery, Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose and Discharge Air Gun with Intent to Wound.

The 18-year-old female was later released without charge.

Gypsumville RCMP continue to investigate.