Police looking for teen who allegedly shot Winnipeg Transit driver with pellet gun

Winnipeg police are looking for a teen who allegedly shot a transit bus driver with a pellet gun on Monday.

WPS says officers responded to the incident around 2:11 p.m. on Oct. 27, near the intersection of Gateway Road and Springfield Road.

Reports indicated that a teen had shot the transit driver in the hand with a pellet gun. Police confirmed the driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital in stable condition.

Following this, police searched the area for the teen, but have been unable to locate them at this time.

“The investigation has turned over to the major crimes unit, and they continue to pursue every investigative lead that they can to identify this youth that was involved and bring him into custody,” said Cst. Stephen Spencer, with the Winnipeg Police Service.

It’s the second time in the past couple of weeks a bus driver has been assaulted, prompting concern from the transit union.

“This latest one is right on the verge and worrying us to having a reoccurrence as we did when brother Jubal Fraser was killed,” said Chris Scott, the president business agent of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505.

Scott says the driver is doing well physically, but the mental stress of the incident has taken a toll, causing him to consider leaving his job for good.

“When you have a gun pointed out you, whether it turns out to be a pellet gun as the police have indicated, or a real gun, you don’t know the difference, you’re going to think your life is going to end, and that’s exactly what this operator believed when he saw that gun,” said Scott.

“He enjoys his job, he enjoys driving a bus, and he would like to, but he honestly said I don’t know if I’ll be able to come back.”

Adding, “We have moved from more inspectors, to community safety officers, to police on busses.  We have gone from no shields to partial shields, and the transit advisory committee has approved to pursue full enclosures.  But our concern is, how long is this going to take, and will it be too late.”

Anyone who may have any information regarding the incident is asked to contact police at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.

-With files from Eddie Huband