Yesterday morning just before 9 Manitoba RCMP officers responded to reports of a stabbing off Highway 16 in Westbourne.
After a preliminary investigation, it was determined that a male along with his female passenger had picked up a hitchhiker on Highway 16 in the RM of Westlake-Gladstone. After being picked up the hitchhiker attacked the male driver without being provoked by stabbing him.
The driver was able to pull over the vehicle safely to the side of the highway at which point the suspect fled the vehicle on foot. RCMP from Portage La Prairie, Amaranth, and Neepawa all responded to the scene including a K-9 unit.
Shortly after the arrival police received a call about a suspicious male attempting to break into vehicles at the corner of Highway 16 and Highway 50 where they found the suspect who was holding an edged weapon.
At this time the suspect confronted the police, and an officer shot the male who was attended to with first aid until EMS arrived but shortly after the male was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver who was attacked was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba is investigating the shooting while the Manitoba RCMP continues their investigation of the stabbing incident.
