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A teenage boy faces robbery and assault charges after Winnipeg Police said he allegedly sprayed bear spray at customers and staff while robbing a convenience store.
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On Friday at around 2:30 a.m., police were called to a convenience store in the 200 block of St. Mary’s Avenue for the report of a robbery that had just occurred.
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General Patrol officers in the area attended and located two male patrons outside the store holding down a male suspect involved in the robbery, police said. Officers learned the suspect had discharged a canister of bear spray inside the store during the robbery and that a 22-year-old male employee and both patrons, aged 29 and 38, were suffering from the effects of the spray.
The Major Crimes Unit assumed the investigation and determined the suspect entered the store with his face covered, brandished a canister of bear spray, and demanded money from the employee at the counter. The suspect discharged the canister directly at the 38-year-old patron, who intervened, resulting in a physical struggle. The suspect continued discharging the bear spray as the second patron intervened. Both patrons restrained the suspect until police arrived. The victims suffered no additional injury apart from the bear spray’s effects.
A 17-year-old from Winnipeg has been charged with robbery, wearing a disguise with intent, possession of a weapon, assault with a weapon and failing to comply with sentence.
He was detained in custody.
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