RCMP logo is shown in Edmonton, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson)
A 66-year-old rural property owner has been charged after he confronted a group of suspects allegedly stealing from his land and fired shots during the confrontation.
Manitoba RCMP responded to a report of a theft in progress at a rural property in the RM of Dufferin the night of August 15.
Police learned four suspects had attended the private property earlier in the day and returned that evening in two vehicles later confirmed to have been stolen from Watrous, Sask.
The property owner was alerted to the activity by a motion camera and went to investigate, where he observed suspects transferring fuel from a portable container into one of the stolen vehicles. Armed with a firearm, he confronted the group and fired shots toward the vehicles.
Three suspects remained at the scene until officers arrived and took them into custody, with various items believed to have been stolen from the property found in the back of a truck. A fourth suspect fled in the other vehicle, which was located the next morning in a canola field a few kilometres away.
Three suspects — a 29-year-old man, a 47-year-old man, and a 41-year-old woman — have been charged in connection with the incident.
RCMP also arrested the property owner at the scene. He faces two counts each of careless use of a firearm, using a firearm in the commission of an offence, and discharging a firearm in a reckless manner. He was released on an undertaking.
