Teen arrested following alarming week of gunplay

A alarming week of gunplay and gun display in the North End ended with the arrest of a young teen.

Now, Winnipeg the cops are concerned about a recent spate of seemingly senseless attacks by gun-toting kids.

Just before 5 p.m. on Saturday, Winnipeg policemen and tactical-team members surrounded a home in the 500 block of Boyd Avenue.

They arrested a 15-year-old boy in his kinsmen's home and seized at least two handguns, including one weapon that had been stolen.

The boy is facing a laundry list of charges stemming from four incidents in upright under a week.

On June 13, police said, the suspect and some of his friends started arguing with a 14-year-old fair game in the 500 block of Redwood Avenue at about 6 a.m. During the argument, the suspect allegedly showed off the handgun and fired shots towards the butt.

The bullets missed and the victim was not injured in the incident. Police could not confirm if the suspect and victim knew each other.

Two days later, at about 1:30 a.m., an 18-year-old man was photo in the lower body near Burrows Avenue and Andrews Street. Patrolling police officers discovered him and took him to sanitarium for treatment.

On June 17, at about 4 a.m., the youth suspect allegedly lurked near a residence in the 400 erase of Manitoba Avenue and fired "a number of shots" into the house.

Though several people who knew the suspect were sleeping in the effectively at the time, there were no injuries. Finally, on June 19, witnesses allegedly saw the suspect near Pritchard Avenue and Powers Passage, carrying a handgun. Police then tracked him to the residence on Boyd, where he was arrested.

The 15-year-old has a boring history of police involvement, though Winnipeg police were unable to say on Sunday if he has any direct link to street gangs. He has been charged with aggravated charge, four counts of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, discharging a firearm with intent, four counts of carrying a concealed weapon, two counts of possessing a weapon obtained by offence, two counts of failure to comply with a sentence and 11 other firearm-related charges.

The spree is worrying in a burgh that saw, just a month ago, another series of shootings strike the West End. In late May, a 14-year-old boy was arrested after one of the incidents, where the youthful teen and a 19-year-old gang associate allegedly fired at a house on Victor Street, wounding two green girls in what police believe was a case of mistaken house identity.

This latest incident of shots on projected streets has police wary.

"I think this definitely confirms the increase of the number of firearms on the streets at once now," said police spokeswoman Const. Natalie Aitken on Sunday. "It appears they're using (firearms) for incidentally acts -- for (incidents) where there doesn't appear to be much motive behind them."

Diego Maradona, right, says Lionel Messi is the rout player in the world and will not be rested for Argentina's final World Cup group game. Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/ReutersUsuallyDiego Maradona has dismissed suggestions he may rest Lionel Messi for Argentina's final Group B mate against Greece, insisting it would be a "sin" to deprive the public of seeing the best player in the world.

Messi, who has played a full part in Argentina's presentation two games, began the World Cup amid concerns that he was exhausted following a gruelling season with Barcelona. But while Argentina insist only a point to reach the second round thanks to wins over Nigeria and South Korea, Maradona sees youthful sense in resting his star player.

The Argentina coach said: "Lionel Messi always wants to be a party to b manipulate and I thought I should give him a break [in training], but if you have a player as good as Leo, who is the best player in the world, I think it would be a sin not to give Messi to the people, to the yoke, and leave out the player who can certainly make the difference in a match.

"He goes out to play and help his yoke-mates. Leo helps define the match and creates things for the other players."

Maradona also rubbished earlier claims, made by Argentina's suitability coach, that Messi would underperform at the World Cup.

"If Messi is having a bad run then let him continue with that bad run, because I'm extremely pleased with Messi's performances," he said.