Winnipeg police were called to an apartment building on Thursday for what they said was a hostage situation involving multiple individuals, which ended in the shooting death of the suspect.
Officers arrived at a residence on 25 Furby St. at approximately 1:45 p.m. on Dec. 28. According to police, an armed man was holding four people against their will in a unit on the third floor. At least 14 police cars could be seen on the street with the public being asked to avoid the area at the time.
In a press conference on Friday, police chief Danny Smyth said the suspect – a 52-year-old man – was known to officials and had an extensive criminal record. He also said two of the hostages, a woman in her 30s and a child aged 3, were either released or escaped. A male hostage was able to escape from the balcony of the third floor.
The remaining female victim, 19-years-old, was still with the suspect, Smyth said. He added that the suspect was armed with an edged weapon.
“The event proceeded throughout the afternoon,” Smyth said. By 5:10 p.m., officers entered the suite to rescue the hostage, Smyth continued. In the process, he said the suspect was shot after an officer’s firearm was discharged.
“There were elevated concerns for her (the hostage’s) safety, (which) necessitated a rescue plan.”
None of the victims were physically harmed. According to Smyth, the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba is investigating the death of the suspect as it involves a police-related shooting.
The incident occurred in the same building where police said a man believed to be missing was found dead earlier this week. In a release on Friday, Winnipeg police said 34-year-old Farah Mohamud was found dead in the apartment on Dec. 26.
According to Smyth, Mohamud was located on the fifth floor of the apartment building. Winnipeg police had been investigating his disappearance after receiving a missing person report.
Mohamud was a truck driver from Delta, B.C., who police believe had been in Winnipeg at the time of his disappearance. His truck was located in the West Broadway neighbourhood.
According to Smyth, the suspect involved in the hostage situation was a person of interest in the homicide death of Mohamud.
An investigation is ongoing.
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