Winnipeg police have warned officers about a military-style assault rifle connected to a deadly shooting Thursday evening in the West End.

Two suspects have been arrested but the weapon hasn’t been recovered.

Police describe it as a highly dangerous and illegal firearm, which has area residents and officers on high alert.

Officers responded at around 6:30 p.m. Thursday night to reports a man was shot in the 600 block of Wellington Avenue

George Prieston, 29, was found inside a home suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper-body.  Prieston was taken to hospital in critical condition where he died.

The victim’s dog was also shot and died as a result.

Two men have been arrested and will face charges of first-degree murder and cruelty to animals.

Police haven’t ruled out the possibility more arrests will be made.

Winnipeg Police Service Const. Rob Carver said it appears drugs may have been a factor in the shooting.  He also said it appears the victim and suspects were known to each other.

Carver said witnesses advised police that a “military-style assault rifle with a high capacity magazine” was used in the shooting.

“It’s incredibly concerning,” said Carver.  “This type of weapon poses a huge risk to public safety, as well as the safety of our members who responded.”

“It raises, really, the highest levels of concern for the police and the public. This is the type of weapon that we train for but presents a real serious threat when they’re used.”

Carver said the gun is “completely illegal.”

“Unfortunately, the weapon is still outstanding at this time,” said Carver, adding the incident prompted the police service to send a safety bulletin to officers warning them about the rifle.

Brent Oig lives near the scene of the shooting.  He said his family took cover when they heard shots fired.

“After supper, we were in the living room watching some TV and we heard three distinct, big, loud gunshots,” said Oig. “I looked at the wife and right away said, ‘That’s gunfire.’”

“We grabbed our kids, our three sons, and ran into the basement.”

Oig said it’s not the first time he’s heard shots fired in his neighbourhood.  He said he still feels “relatively safe,” but wishes his kids didn’t have to be exposed to violence in their community.

“Unfortunate, as it is we live in Winnipeg and that’s what this city seems to be,” said Oig.  “It’s completely alarming. It’s scary. People running around with assault rifles is nothing to be taken lightly, of course.”

Winnipeg Police Association President Maurice Sabourin said officers know these types of weapons are on the streets.  He said when one’s actually involved in an incident it raises even more concern.

“Typically, an officer safety bulletin will be sent out when there’s an extra element of danger and obviously a military-style automatic weapon is of great concern for our members,” said Sabourin. “Currently we’re not equipped to engage a person with that type of firearm so there is great concern not only for our members but typically these bad guys don’t really care what their backdrop is and if they’re firing at somebody, somebody else could be an innocent bystander.”

The Winnipeg Police Board has approved the purchase semi-automatic rifles for general patrol members.

Once the rifles arrive, Sabourin said those weapons will provide police the equipment they need.

“There’s always evolving technology out there and I think we need to stay on top of that.”