A dramatic scene unfolded in downtown Winnipeg Tuesday morning after a woman walked into the intersection of Portage and Main pointing, what appeared to be, a gun to her head.

“It’s not a real firearm, however, it was presented as one,” said Gordon Perrier, deputy chief of operations with the Winnipeg Police Service. “Replica could include a variety of weapons right from the toy classification right to airsoft or pellet.”

Officers are not releasing details about the exact type of gun as it is part of the ongoing investigation.

A 17-year-old girl has been arrested and charged with a number of offences including possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and public mischief.

Deputy chief Perrier said it was a significant event for the City of Winnipeg as it unfolded in a very public place.

“I’ve had an opportunity to speak with a number of the officers involved. I can say that those officers are relieved that we had the result that we have today,” he said. “The restrain the bravery and the actions of those officers today is exemplary and we are very happy with the outcome.”

Perrier described what was going through the officers’ minds as the situation was unfolding.

“Officers were presented with a situation that was extremely volatile and it was a lethal encounter for sure,” he said.

“Those officers were very, very critical in their evaluation of the people around the intersection. What firing their weapon may mean for people in the surrounding area. I mean splitting hairs when we talk about delivery system and intent of the individual that was in the middle of the intersection.”

Officers could not release more details on the motive behind the incident as the individual is a minor.

Police and tactical units were able to resolve the Portage and Main incident in less than four minutes.



A woman could be seen holding, what appeared to be, a gun to her head. (Source: Alexis DeVito)

Public reaction to the incident as it unfolded

Robby Cheslock had just gotten off the bus around 10:20 a.m. at TD, when he witnessed the incident.

“All of a sudden I heard sirens and people yelling. I looked and saw a lady in the middle of Portage and Main, thought it was something for protesting, then I saw cops with their guns and then saw the lady with a gun in her hand to her head,” Cheslock said. “The cops kept yelling put the gun down.”

Cheslock was recording the incident on his phone when a semi-truck blocked his view. When the truck passed, he said the woman was on the ground.

He described hearing what he thought were bean bag bullets used to knock the woman down.

“She got up and started running. All the police started running at her, then tackled her to the ground and got her handcuffed and took her away,” Cheslock said.

Jesse Lane, who works for the City of Winnipeg, also witnessed the incident. Lane and a coworker were working their watering route by the Richardson building when the woman came out by their truck.

“I was just a little bit shocked, I just yelled at her through my window, ‘put your gun down’ but she wasn’t listening to me,” Lane said. “She had a letter, a flower and a gun.”

At that point, Lane said he ran to get his coworker into the vehicle, where the two took cover.

“My main concern was if she was going to point the gun in my direction,” he said.

Lane said he was very happy with the way the police unit handled the situation.