2 teens arrested, 1 suspect at large after bear spray, machete attack

A pair of teenagers have been charged with aggravated assault after police say they attacked a man with bear spray and a machete Friday night.

Officers were called to the 300 block of Keenleyside Street in Winnipeg around 7:45 p.m., where they found a man in his 20s suffering from serious injuries to his upper body.

Police said they provided emergency medical treatment and applied two tourniquets. The victim was taken to hospital in an unstable condition, but after “significant medical treatment”, he stabilized.

A police investigation revealed the victim was leaving a home where he was “socializing” when three unknown men from another suite followed him outside. There, the group allegedly assaulted the victim with bear spray and a machete. Police said the suspects fled and witnesses called police.

Officers used K9 dogs and information from witnesses to find three people matching the description of the suspects. Police said they located the group on Watt Street. After a brief foot chase, police arrested one of the suspects on Union Street and the other on Harbison Avenue West.

One suspect remains at large, police said.

A 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy were charged with aggravated assault. The pair were also charged with weapons offenses and the 16-year-old was charged with five counts of failing to comply with his sentence.

The boys remain in custody. The allegations have not been tested in court.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.