Men killed in Winnipeg restaurant shot each other at the same time, police say

Victims of a double homicide in downtown Winnipeg earlier this week were members of the same street gang, and shot and killed each other, police say.

Anthony BrianCromastey, 30, and Rodney AlbertKirton, 25, died after opening fire on each other inside Johnny G's,a popular late-night restaurant and pub on Main Street, around 1:30 a.m. CT Wednesday.

"The investigation has determined the deceased males died as a result of simultaneous gunshots to each other," said a Winnipeg police spokesperson,Const. Rob Carver, on Friday.

Carver saidboth handguns have been recovered.

Investigators used surveillance video and witness accounts to conclude guns were fired at the same time, said Carver.

"So the two individuals were basically in a gunfight in a public restaurant and shot each other fatally on the spot," he said.

A simultaneous double homicide is"incredibly rare,"Carver said. The police spokesperson said he was unaware of one everhappening in Canada before.

"We did a bit of research and it looks like it's happened in the [United] States once or twice," he said.

About adozen people were in the restaurant at the time, with many running out and flagging down a police cruiser that happened to be passing nearby.

A femaleserverwas hurt by a ricochet bulletand sent to hospitalwhere she was treated fora non-life-threatening injury and released.

Carver said he's surprised there weren't more casualties because there were a lot of bullets flying.

Both men known to justice system: police

CromasteyandKirtonwere members of the same street gang, but Carver wouldn't say its name.

"I never announce the gang. I'm not going to give any gang the publicity."

Criminal records show both men were familiar with the justice system.

Cromasteybreached a bail order in 2013. At the time,he was not allowed to possess a cellphone. Kirton served time in jail twice for possessing drugs and was banned from possessing firearms.

Immediately after the shooting Wednesday, another man at the scene assaultedKirton, police said.An 18-year-old wascharged with assault for that attack.

"Kirtonwas still alive when the assault took place," Carver said, noting he andCromasteywere rushed to hospital in serious condition where they died shortly afterward.

Their deaths are the city'sfourth and fifth homicides of the year.