Arrests made after attempted robbery on Highway 6

A youth from Selkirk has been arrested, along with an accomplice, after a robbery on Highway 6.

On May 22, at around 8:55 a.m., Gypsumville RCMP responded to a report of a male having been shot with an airsoft gun on Highway 6. 

As officers were responding to the call, they were alerted that employees from Manitoba Hydro had stopped at the scene and provided first aid to the victim, kept him warm and placed several 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 man, 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 victim was contacted by a friend of his, an 18-year-old girl, whose vehicle needed a boost on Highway 6. The victim, along with another 27-year-old man, attended the scene and assisted in getting the vehicle started.

Once the vehicle was started, two men 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 girl, along with the two suspects, 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 suspects fleeing on foot. The 18-year-old girl 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 suspects were tracked into a wooded area and arrested without incident.

The two suspects, 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 girl was later released without charge.