A liquor mart armed robbery leaves three victims and one in hospital.

On November 20, at 3:45 p.m., Winnipeg Police General Patrol Units responded to a report of an armed robbery occurring at the Liquor Mart located at 850 Keewatin St.

According to reports, there were three male suspects armed with knives. One suspect assaulted multiple staff including two females. Although one was able to retreat safely to an office after the altercation, as he was exiting the building he struck another female employee on the head knocking her unconscious. She was transported to hospital in critical condition but is now stable.

Public Information Officer, Constable Rob Carver says that although this has received a lot of attention, "this particular incident is not unique to what my officers have seen, it's not unique to the retail landscape."

"Hundreds have been arrested over the last months. We have people dedicated to doing almost nothing but looking at liquor store videos," Constable Carver says.

The same suspect that assaulted the staff threatened a female and her daughter while attempting to carjack their vehicle but was unsuccessful. He retreated and then attempted to rob two females of their purses, leaving them "cowering on the ground," Constable Carver says. Police state this is when witnesses intervened and held the suspect for arrest. 

Although Constable Carver states these witnesses helped complete the arrest he advises against getting involved in any incidents.

In reference to vigilante justice, Constable Carver says, "it's illegal and it's going to get somebody arrested. I'm not going to stand here and say that anybody can't help somebody else but it changes when it's a bottle of liquor or an assault. You have no legal right to intervene if its not your property." 

"My training would say to anyone who is unarmed, back away and get to safety, any weapon is a deadly threat."

Many have inquired about the roles of unarmed liquor mart security officers. Constable Carver says, "It's not for me to comment on private security protocol, my training is different. I wouldn't expect anyone to intervene during a violent incident. If I was there in uniform and someone produced a knife our protocol is to draw a firearm."

"I am not sure what a company expects when they hire unarmed security guards. My training would say to anyone who is unarmed, back away and get to safety, any weapon is a deadly threat," Constable Carver says.

Through video surveillance, officers are making arrests every day not only at liquor stores but at various locations that suspects are found. Constable Carver states that they have many individuals who have been a part of multiple incidents. In fact, they recently arrested an individual responsible for 106 incidents and another for 47 separate incidents through surveillance work. 

As holiday sales season approaches, the police are gearing up to provide more security presence at popular locations and malls. 

One 15-year-old male has been arrested for this incident with 18 charges including a fine of $5000. The other two suspects are outstanding.

The investigation is ongoing.