A Shamatawa First Nation man was shot and critically injured by RCMP in a northern Manitoba community on Saturday, the federal police service and community chief said.
Around 1:00 PM CT, officers responded to a report of a man carrying a firearm. While on patrol, officers heard gunshots, according to police.
A suspect was located outside a public house and shots were fired after what was described as an “interaction” between him and officers, RCMP said via Twitter shortly after 6 p.m. CT.
The 22-year-old was taken to the local medical center.
Today at 13:00 Shamatava
—@rcmpmb
In an interview late Saturday afternoon, Shamattawa Chief Jordna Hill said the man was waiting to be airlifted to a Winnipeg hospital and described his condition as “50-50.”
“I pray he pulls through, pulls through,” he said. Family members at the medical center are “emotional and angry,” Hill said.
No officers were injured, RCMP said, adding that Manitoba’s Independent Investigations Unit, which investigates serious incidents involving police in the province, had been notified.
Shamatawa is located about 745 kilometers northwest of Winnipeg.
Chief calls for review of RCMP policy
Hill said he has been in contact with Indigenous leaders from advocacy organizations Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and the Assembly of First Nations about the shooting and hopes to set up a conference with them.
He also said he wants a review of RCMP policy and procedures, saying shootings like this are a “common occurrence” in local communities.
Hill said he hopes to keep the peace in the remote community after the shooting.
People there are upset, he said. “There’s a lot of anger and shock right now,” Hill said.
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