A Unicity taxi driver was shot in the shoulder Sunday morning near Gateway Road and Munroe Avenue.
The company confirmed one of their drivers was injured. The shooting followed a fight with passengers, during which the driver was assaulted, a Unicity manager said.
President of Unicity Taxi Gurmail Mangat said the driver wasn’t seriously injured.
“He’s okay. He’s scared a little bit, but feeling okay," Mangat said.
Winnipeg police announced they were investigating a serious incident at Gateway Road and Munroe Avenue around 7:30 a.m. They closed the intersection for about three hours while they investigated.
Mangat said the driver picked up customers, and was supposed to take them to McLeod Avenue and Gateway Road. The customers wanted to see someone, but couldn’t.
“He told the driver to go back to Munroe and Gateway. He was waiting at a red light at Munroe and Gateway, and another car passed him at the red light and blocked his car, and they started shooting,” Mangat said.
A bullet hit the driver’s shoulder, but did not seriously injure him. The customers he had in the backseat ran away, and then the driver called 911. He drove over to Main Street, where police and first aid met him.
A witness said around 6:40 a.m. she heard what sounded like three gun shots in the area.
This witness told CTV News she was helping a friend whose car broke down when heard the shots. She said soon after, three people came running past her and her friend. She said it appeared they were fleeing for a back alley.
Police have not released any other information about the incident.
A man who did not want to be identified noticed a Unicity taxi mounted on a flatbed truck outside 662 Main St. around 7 a.m. with a police car behind it.
The taxi’s windshield had multiple bullet holes in it.
“The profession of cab drivers is a very dangerous job. Full of stress, and some customers are good, but the public doesn’t appreciate the job cabbies are doing,” Mangat added.
- With files from Sarolta Saskiw and Sarah Plowman
