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Boy shot in leg in rural Manitoba released from hospital as RCMP investigation continues

Boy shot in leg in rural Manitoba released from hospital as RCMP investigation continues

A 10-year-old boy is recovering at home in Winnipeg after he was shot in the leg while strolling along a rural trail in southern Manitoba last week.

Robert Desjardins was released from hospital on Monday, as RCMP continue to investigate how he was shot in the first place.

"The fact that this young boy is expected to make a full recovery certainly does not minimize the seriousness of our investigation," RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Bert Paquet told CBC News.

"The fact that he is being released is great news. A 10-year-old boy hanging out with friends and family members walking on a trail in beautiful, rural Manitoba should not have to worry about these types of incidents happening."

Robert was shot shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday as he walked with a cousin on a trail near Middlebro, Man., about 155 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg, according to his mother, Jessica Desjardins.

At the time, the Desjardins were in the small community visiting relatives.

"They saw … a black truck … saw the door open, heard a pop and that was it," Jessica Desjardins said over the weekend. "Robert felt like he had been hit by a rock."

Police have said the two were on a trail leading to Road 2 N. in the Rural Municipality of Piney when they heard a shot and the boy felt pain in his left leg.

Robert was taken to hospital in Steinbach, Man., then moved to the Children's Hospital at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg where he had surgery.

Type of weapon not known

Paquet said ballistics investigators, who are trying to determine what kind of weapon was used, want to see the bullet or pellet that injured Robert. However, it remains lodged in the boy's leg.

"Medical advice at this point might be to leave it there … we will have to see how that unfolds," he said.

The RCMP's serious crimes unit and other units are assisting local officers in the investigation.

Paquet said officers believe the incident is an isolated case.

He added that it's surprising for such an incident to happen in a small, rural community, and even more alarming for a child to be involved.

"Any crime, or any incidents like these are concerning. The fact that it's a child always hits closer to home," he said.

"Most of our investigators have kids or, you know, children, usually around the same age, so it's definitely a good motivation to find who is responsible for this incident and make sure that they answer questions we have for them."