UPDATED
Winnipeg Police have resolved an armed and barricaded situation in the 400 block of Nairn Avenue.
Police say that they were called to the area around 1:15 pm on Thursday May 23, 2019 for the report of a firearm-related incident.
At about 1:45 pm a vehicle was involved in a collision on the Nairn overpass. Police say that they watched as the suspect was speeding, running traffic lights and travelling in the oncoming lane before slamming into another vehicle on the overpass.
The suspect was driving a stolen vehicle with stolen plates at the time. Police say the suspect fled on foot as officers gave chase.
The suspect at one point turned to the officers chasing him, grabbed the waistband of his pants and told them he would shoot them.
The suspect then ran into a home on Nairn that had four adults inside. One of the adults escaped the home soon after the suspect entered.
The Tactical Support Team responded and treated the incident as an armed and barricaded situation.
Over the next several hours the other three people who had been in the home when the suspect entered were safely removed from the residence.
Just after 8:00 pm a fire was seen inside the home that quickly spread throughout the structure.
Police could hear the suspect yelling that he wanted help as he was burning alive.
Tactical Support Team members approached the building and forced their way through a fortified window to pull the suspect to safety.
The suspect was placed in police custody and taken to hospital as a precaution.
Damage to the home is extensive and the structure was deemed a total loss
During the investigation after the incident police say they came to the conclusion that the suspect had been involved in several other incidents prior to the standoff
Police say they believe the suspect carjacked a 28-year-old male in the area of Portage Avenue and Cavalier Drive on May 14, 2019. They also think the suspect stole licence plates from a vehicle on Talbot Avenue sometime between May 21-23, 2019.
Police also think the suspect was involved in the original firearm-related call that sent them to the area as well as a robbery that happened minutes before the crash.
Gordon William Kovich, 29 from Winnipeg has been charged for his alleged involvement with:
- Break Enter & Commit
- Dwelling House
- Arson Causing Damage to Property
- Uttering Threats
- Cause Death or Bodily Harm (x2)
- Fail to Comply with Probation Order
- Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance
- Operation of a Conveyance While Prohibited
- Fail to Stop at Scene of Accident
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
- Theft Under $5000
Kovich also had several outstanding warrants for his arrest that he was processed on.
He was detained in custody.
