ManitobaFour teens have been charged after patrol officers broke up an armed robbery in west Winnipeg on Tuesday evening, during which an airgun was fired at a security guard, police say.Youth ages 13 to 17 charged after Tuesday evening robbery at Unicity WalmartCBC News · Posted: Sep 03, 2025 3:51 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoWinnipeg police say officers were flagged down about an armed robbery taking place inside a Portage Avenue Walmart on Tuesday evening. (Lyzaville Sale/CBC)Four teens have been charged after patrol officers broke up an armed robbery in west Winnipeg on Tuesday evening, during which an airgun was fired at a security guard, police say.Officers patrolling in the Unicity area as part of a retail crime crackdown strategy were flagged down around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday and told about an armed robbery in progress inside the Walmart at 3655 Portage Ave., a police spokesperson said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference.Officers rushed to the store and caught two teens, including one still armed with a gun, police said. Two more teens were arrested outside of the store.After talking with witnesses and reviewing video surveillance, police say they’ve determined the four teens went into the store and stole backpacks from the shelves, filling them with more stolen merchandise.Security personnel attempted to stop the teens as they tried to leave without paying and grabbed one of the shoplifters, according to police. One of the other teens then pulled out a handgun, pointed it at security and demanded the other teen be released, police say.The armed teen fired the weapon at the security guard, narrowly missing his head, before the group dispersed.The gun was later found to be a CO2-powered airgun.’At a loss for words’Insp. Jennifer McKinnon said video surveillance of the incident was shocking to see.”I am honestly at a loss for words,” she said at the news conference. “I am a 28-year member of this service, and I have no words to describe how terribly wrong this incident could have gone on for everyone.”Insp. Max Waddell said police will always treat weapons that look like firearms as though they are.”We could have been in a position where we had to use lethal force to deal with it,” he said at the news conference.Insp. Max Waddell, left, and Insp. Jennifer McKinnon say the use of an airgun during the robbery could have resulted in lethal force by police. (CBC)Waddell also said most retail theft and shoplifting incidents in Winnipeg are not crimes driven by necessity.”This is organized crime that is happening. It would not surprise me [if these teens] were directed to complete these acts of theft.”A 13-year-old boy has been charged with armed robbery using a firearm, using an imitation firearm while committing an indictable offence, assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon, police say.A 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl were also charged with armed robbery using a firearm.The 15-year-old had additional arrest warrants for failing to comply with sentence and release orders, as well as two warrants for theft under $5,000.A 17-year-old boy was charged with armed robbery using a firearm and two counts of failing to comply with a sentence order. He was also wanted on a warrant for three counts of failing to comply with a sentence order.All four teens were detained in youth custody.
4 teens arrested after airgun fired at store security during robbery: Winnipeg police
