Aunt raises money to help family of teen shot in Windsor Park

The aunt of a teenage girl who was shot in Windsor Park last weekend is trying to raise money to help the girl's family get by while she is in recovery.

The 16-year-old was sent to hospital after she was shot while in a car outside a Mac's convenience store at Autumnwood Drive and Winakwa Road around 12:30 a.m. Saturday.

The girl lives with her dad, who is a single parent working two jobs to help them get by.

"He usually works every day during the week. He works non-stop as it is and so he's been off since the incident. The poor guy hasn't slept since Friday," said Jennifer Blix, the girl's aunt.

• Stolen RCMP gun used in 'senseless' Winnipeg shooting that injured girl

• Girl, 16, in stable condition following shooting in Winnipeg

The father, who has already lost one daughter, has no medical insurance and has been forced to take time off work to be with his injured girl, said Blix.

"The bills are already piling up," she said. "I can't imagine what it's going to be like in a month and a half, two months, when we're in better condition, hopefully, to take her home."

Right now, the dad spends most of his time by his daughter's side at the Health Sciences Centre, Blix said. Paying for parking, gas and food at locations near the hospital is adding up and eating into his normal budget, she said.

"We want to take some of the burden off his shoulders," said Blix, adding her niece "is a very smart, young girl who is well aware that they live paycheque to paycheque.

"We don't want her to worry in any way about this."

Blix has started a GoFundMe campaign for the girl and her dad. She said she hopes money raised online will provide some relief to the family.

​"Hopefully we can raise $5,000 just to pay the rent, pay the bills, the car payments, keep the hydro on at the house and have money for all the medications that will be required after," she said.

Unintended target

Police have said an argument between two men and the group the teen was with escalated until one of the men pulled out a gun and shot at the vehicle, hitting the girl. The suspects fled the scene immediately afterwards but were later arrested.

The gun used in the shooting had been stolen from an RCMP officer's vehicle hours earlier.

Investigators do not believe the girl injured in the shooting was the intended target, deputy chief Danny Smyth said Monday. There is no indication that the groups knew each other, he added.

Blix said she is "disgusted" with the act of violence, but she's happy about the progress her niece is making.

"Her vitals are back to where they should be," said Blix. "She was in great spirits, she had a great sleep for the first time [Monday] night. We've stopped having so many visitors there, though, just so she can have the rest she needs to become stronger. She is weak, but she is smiling.

"We're unbelievably grateful for everything and the support everyone has already shown from friends, family, the community, the media, the police who did their job — it's so great," she said.

Those interested in donating money to the family can do so through their GoFundMe campaign.