Fire extinguisher attack escalates to stabbings at Winnipeg Walmart

WINNIPEG — A routine trip to the grocery store ended in a dramatic display of violence for Gabriel Kematch, who witnessed one man stabbing two others before fleeing on Wednesday evening.

The incident, which occurred shortly after 6 p.m., began with a dispute inside the Walmart supercentre on Empress Street before spilling out into the parking lot.

Kematch said he was parked outside the store and waiting for his girlfriend, who was inside shopping. He called her to find out what was taking so long, and that’s when he realized something was wrong.

“She was just like, ‘Oh, my God, babe. Someone is spraying a fire extinguisher.’ And then, all of a sudden, I see people running out of the store,” Kematch said.

“I get out of the car, and I’m like, ‘What the hell is going on?’ And then I see these dudes.”

The Winnipeg Police Service said Thursday a 27-year-old man entered the building around 6:10 p.m. and allegedly concealed several items of clothing underneath his jacket. As he was leaving the store, he spotted two men, aged 34 and 41.

The men knew each other, police said.

A verbal dispute ensued before the suspect grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher and sprayed the two men before emptying the remainder of the extinguisher about the store, police said.

The fight continued outside, where Kematch said he saw the suspect stab one of the men in the back and the other in the torso.

Police said the suspect fled in a vehicle before officers arrived.

Kematch, who had left his car and was watching from nearby, went to check on the victims.

“One guy lifted up his shirt and there was a stab wound on his rib, blood gushing out,” Kematch said. “I went to check (on the other victim) too, and same thing, just blood coming out.”

Kematch said he thought the men might have been in shock or full of adrenaline because they were laughing, despite their injuries.

“Those were solid guys, man … They are lucky nobody was stabbed in an artery or something.”

Numerous police cruisers and emergency services arrived shortly after. Kematch said he watched the men receive medical treatment before they were taken away in ambulances.

Police confirmed both men were hospitalized and in stable condition.

A few hours after the attack, around 11 p.m., patrolling officers spotted the suspect’s vehicle near Alfred Avenue and Salter Street and conducted a traffic stop. They arrested one man and seized a knife, WPS said.

Police did not release the name of the accused, but said he is charged with aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon, mischief over $5,000 and theft under $5,000.

After the incident, Kematch went inside the Walmart hoping to finish shopping.

The area where the fight broke out was covered in a white, powdery substance from the extinguisher, he said.

“You could still smell the fumes, or whatever, and it was just messy there where it happened.”

Kematch said he shops at the store often and has witnessed other thefts. In some cases, people have fled the store via emergency exits, triggering alarms.

“I’ve seen thieves fighting with loss prevention (workers) … but this is probably the worst I’ve seen because number one, with the fire extinguisher going off, it was concerning because there were children in there,” he said.

A large lineup of customers had gathered at the checkouts and he decided it was best to just leave.

It’s not the first time a Walmart in Winnipeg has been the scene of a violent incident.

In September, four teens were charged in a daytime robbery in which a Walmart security officer was nearly shot with an airgun. In March 2024, shoppers at the Regent Avenue location were hit with pepper spray when a fight broke out between a group of teens.

After a prolonged wave of retail crimes plaguing the Manitoba capital, city police — with support from business owners and the province — have seemingly turned the corner, said John Graham, the Retail Council of Canada’s government relations director for the Prairies.

Recent data provided to the retail council by WPS suggests the rate of retail crimes in Winnipeg has plateaued, but certain pockets of the city continue to experience many problems, Graham said.

“We’re certainly concerned about the St. James area as one of the higher areas where incidents do occur,” he said.

Chain retailers and big-box stores often see a higher number of incidents, due to the volume of customers they welcome daily, he said.

“In many ways, larger retailers are almost the modern-day town square. Thousands of people are coming through those stores, and there are going to be people who have conflicts,” Graham said.

Walmart Canada did not respond to a request for comment sent Thursday morning.

» Winnipeg Free Press