1 dead after Winnipeg police fire shots at stolen vehicle, second suspect sought

An officer-involved shooting in Niverville Wednesday morning led to a large police presence in the community south of Winnipeg.

RCMP say one man is dead and a woman is in custody, while another man took off in a stolen vehicle and remains at large.

According to Winnipeg police, the incident began with a call they received around 12:40 a.m. about a stolen vehicle, with potentially armed occupants, was headed to the city from a rural municipality to the southwest.

The truck was spotted about 10 minutes later near Ness Avenue and Linwood Street in Winnipeg, and the police Air1 helicopter began tracking it.

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Police said Air1 followed the vehicle for about an hour, ending at a parking lot in Otterburne, Man., where the stolen vehicle rammed a police cruiser, causing officers to fire their weapons.

The helicopter followed the fleeing truck to a parking lot on Drovers Run in Niverville, where, police say, the driver got out, entered another vehicle, and drove off. A passenger tried to run from the scene, but was arrested on-site by RCMP.

Officers found a man with a gunshot wound inside the abandoned truck, and despite efforts to provide emergency treatment, he died at the scene.

The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) of Manitoba has taken over the investigation into the shooting, with assistance from the RCMP.

RCMP in Saskatchewan have provided a description of the suspect they say fled the Niverville area.

David Burling, 29, is believed to be in the Esterhazy, Sask., area in a vehicle with Manitoba plates — about an hour and a half drive northwest of Virden, Man.

Police in Esterhazy have told residents to lock their doors and not to approach strangers, but say they don’t believe there’s an imminent danger to the public.

Winnipeg police were unable to provide or confirm any details about a suspect, saying the case is currently under RCMP jurisdiction.

0:47 Niverville, Man., sees heavy police presence after RCMP-involved shooting

A man who says he’s lived in community for 25 years told 680 CJOB it’s surprising to see incidents like this taking place in a once-quiet town.

“I just find it amazing that Niverville, as big as it’s getting, can go through things like this,” Robert Davey said.

“It seems like week after week and month after month, something is happening… things happen even in small towns, you know?”