For several local families, this year’s July long weekend ended on a terrifying note.
On Monday, July 3, at approximately 10:35 p.m., the St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP detachment responded to a call on an assault in progress in Niverville. Police were informed that a weapon was involved and that shots were heard, indicating the possibility of a firearm being discharged.
According to RCMP Corporal Julie Courchaine, an altercation took place between a group of youth at a location on Niverville’s Main Street. It resulted in two male youths, ages 15 and 16, sustaining stab wounds.
Police responded immediately to the call and ambulances were mobilized. There have been reports that the STARS air ambulance touched down near the Niverville Heritage Centre shortly before midnight.
Both of the injured youth were transported to hospital for treatment and have since been released.
“This doesn’t appear to be a random incident at all,” Courchaine says. “It seems like there was a group of young people and a fight broke out. I don’t believe there’s any threat to public safety. That would be more for a random type incident where there’s no motive.”
At this stage, all indications are that no gun was involved and no shots were fired. The noises heard are believed to have come from fireworks being set off in the area.
No further information is available at this time and the names of the people involved are not being released. Officers are asking for the public’s help in gathering information that will help with their investigation.
“We had a whole group of kids that took off running and now we’re trying to put the pieces together and we hope people will come forward and talk to us about what happened,” says Courchaine. “It’s going to take a bit of time to figure out who’s to blame, is there an aggressor, is there sufficient evidence for charges and stuff like that. Obviously if there’s enough [evidence] for charges they’ll go in that direction.”
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call St-Pierre-Jolys RCMP at 204-433-7908 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
