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Disguised intruders terrorized a pair of Winnipeg families at gunpoint, stealing cash and bear-spraying 12 people during a violent home invasion Thursday night, police say.
Eight kids, a mixture of boys and girls aged one to 10, and four adults — two men aged 28 and 32 and two women aged 25 and 31 — suffered the bear spray’s stinging effects and were treated in hospital, said police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen.
No shots were fired, police said.
Michalyshen said the motive isn’t known and there’s no indication the victims know the suspects.
The families — one that resides in the two-storey house in the 1500-block of Ross Avenue in Weston, and one visiting — poured out of the home to escape the lingering spray, witnesses said.
“They were yelling and crying and screaming,” said Bev, who wouldn’t give her last name. “I heard the kids crying, ‘My eyes are burning, my eyes are burning.’ They all had towels up near their eyes.”
A woman was holding a young child in her arms, Bev said.
“It bothered me,” Bev said. “I was wondering, ‘How could anybody do something like that to little kids?’ ”
A day later several objects were scattered in the small yard, including empty plastic bottles that contained solution to flush and cleanse the irritated eyes of the injured and a number of white T-shirts, stained orange or red.
No one has been arrested.
Michalyshen said two male suspects — one armed with a firearm, possibly a shotgun, and a second armed with a canister of bear spray — entered through an unlocked front door about 10:25 p.m.
Demanded more cash
While everyone was held at gunpoint, the 28-year-old handed over cash but the males weren’t satisfied and demanded more, Michalyshen said.
After the suspects sprayed him and the 32-year-old, he took one of the males to a second-floor room, where he gave up more cash and was sprayed a second time, Michalyshen said.
The suspects fled, eluding police officers and a canine unit.
Bev said firefighters set up a large fan at the front door to ventilate the home.
Police said the male armed with bear spray is 5-foot-8 and olive skinned, with bushy eyebrows, dark brown eyes and a chubby build. He was wearing baggy black clothes and a balaclava over his face.
Armed with a gun, the second male is 5-foot-10, with a skinny build, fair complexion and brown eyes. He was wearing baggy black clothes, a camouflage bandana over the lower part of his face and a dark tuque.
Anyone with information about the suspects is asked to call police at 986-6668 or Crime Stoppers at 786-8477.
chris.kitching@sunmedia.ca