The result of an investigation into the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old Indigenous girl on Lagimodiere Boulevard is being shared with the public.

The Winnipeg Police Service says on April 8, officers were pursuing a black jeep after the vehicle was seen leaving a robbery at the  Sage Creek Liquor Mart. They say two days earlier, the same vehicle had been stolen from a Whytewold-area home and used during a Transcona Square Liquor Mart robbery, as well as being involved in a hit-and-run with a fence in the area of Keewatin Street and William Avenue West.

"In this situation, there are individuals who are charged out of an earlier incident, which was separate from the IIU investigation of the officer-involved shooting," the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) says in a statement. Four suspects aged 15-16 at the time, were later charged for these earlier incidents. 

Over a dozen emergency vehicles attended the scene on Wednesday evening. (Dez Folwark Edwards‎)Over a dozen emergency vehicles attended the scene of the shooting. (Dez Folwark Edwards‎)

The vehicle was pursued by officers down Lagimodiere Boulevard to the intersection of Fermor Avenue just after 5:30 p.m. During this time, an officer discharged their gun, shooting the driver, 16-year-old Eishia Hudson.

"Police officers are trained quite well to try and take these situations and bring them under control as quick as they can," WPS Public Information Officer Jay Murray said April 9 about the shooting. "Sometimes, that involves use of force, unfortunately. That's what happened here."

Hudson was taken to the Health Sciences Centre, where she was pronounced deceased.

"This incident is a tragedy, magnified by the loss of a young life," IIU says.

The next morning, the same corner where the incident occurred saw teams of investigators piecing together the incident.

Months after the shooting, when it was safer to gather in Winnipeg, locals showed their support. 

Hundreds of people gathered in June to rally for Hudson, strongly supported by the Bear Clan Patrol. The #JusticeforEisha rally garnered support from the community, calling for an end to racism and police brutality against Indigenous people. A rally in August closed parts of Lagimodiere Boulevard and Fermor Avenue to hold a ceremony.

Hundreds gathered at Manitoba's legislature building Friday evening to honour and support Indigenous lives. (Tristan Malcolm/Facebook)Hundreds gathered at Manitoba's legislature building Friday evening to honour and support Indigenous lives. (Tristan Malcolm/Facebook)

Her memorial remains at the corner of where the tragic shooting occurred. Vehicles in the city still bear #JusticeForEisha stickers.

The IIU began its investigations after the shooting. They gathered evidence including:

  • Investigated summary completed by WPS Criminal Investigations Bureau
  • Forensic Identification Service (FIS) reports and photographs
  • 3D scan of scene
  • Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) report
  • Audio recordings of 911 call from SCLM
  • Audio recordings of WPS radio transmissions
  • Photographs and video taken by various civilian witnesses
  • Video surveillance recordings from various business and commercial premises
  • Narrative reports and notes of WPS officers
  • Video statements of various civilian witnesses
  • The mechanical inspection report for the Jeep
  • Physical evidence seizures, including the discharged WPS service firearm
  • Pathology report respecting the deceased
  • WPS policy on use of firearms
  • Expert opinion on Use of Force report

A civilian monitor, appointed by the Manitoba Police Commission, was assigned to the investigation with IIU personnel.

IIU says their investigative file was referred to the Manitoba Prosecution Service (MPS) to give a Crown opinion on the investigation, giving them the 45-page report on December 22.

MPS told IIU that they recommended not placing any criminal charges against the officer who shot the teen.