WINNIPEG — Two men are in police custody after another man was restrained and seriously assaulted inside a vehicle with a machete.
The victim, a man in his 20s, was exiting a home in the 700 block of Flora Avenue on March 6 when two suspects pulled up.
One of them was armed with a baseball bat, while the other was carrying a machete. They started yelling the name of a known street gang at the victim. They then began to assault the man and dragged him into their vehicle and drove away.
Police say that’s when the man was restrained and had his cheek carved up with letters representing the gang’s name. He suffered serious facial injuries and was taken to hospital in stable condition once he was able to break free.
He made it to the 600 block of Pritchard Avenue and police were notified.
Police say the attack appears to be random and the victim and suspects had no prior contact. Officers believe the victim may have been seen leaving the home of a known gang associate, or was targeted with the suspicion of being a gang member himself.
A 24-year-old man was arrested on May 2, while a 19-year-old man was arrested on July 7. Both Winnipeg suspects face charges of aggravated assault, kidnapping, assault with a weapon and weapon possession. They remain in custody.
