Teen shot dead by RCMP first stole Mountie’s gun: official

ST. LAURENT, MAN. An agency that investigates serious police actions in Manitoba said an RCMP officer was escorting a man to Winnipeg when he wrestled the Mountie’s gun away from him and took off in an unmarked police van.

Hours later, the 18-year-old was shot and killed by officers near the Lake Manitoba First Nation.

Zane Tessler of Manitoba’s Independent Investigation Unit said Mounties have told the unit an officer was taking the man to Winnipeg from Ashern in the van Tuesday night.

Tessler said the two got in a fight, during which the man assaulted the officer, who shot his gun. The man grabbed the officer’s gun and took off in the van, leaving the officer behind.

“The officer suffered injuries and was taken to hospital in Selkirk,” Tessler said Wednesday, adding he didn’t know the extent of the Mountie’s injuries or his condition.

Tessler said it’s not known if the man was shot, but the officer was not hit by his own gunshot. Tessler also said it’s not known if the van was stopped or was driving when the fight occurred.

He said Mounties spotted the man near Lake Manitoba First Nation a few hours later, a chase ensued and the stolen police van ended up in a ditch.

Police attempted to arrest the man and that’s when he was shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tessler said it’s not known how many officers shot at the man or how many shots hit him.