10 dead, 15 in hospital as manhunt continues for suspects
Killings are largest mass murder in Saskatchewan history
September 4, 2022, 3:57 pm
Ten people are dead and at least 15 are in hospital as a manhunt continues for two suspects. With ten dead the killings constitute the largest mass murder in Saskatchewan history.
RCMP are searching for Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson. Damien is described as five feet seven inches tall, about 155 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Police say Myles is six feet, one inch tall, about 240 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Saskatchewan RCMP issued a provincewide dangerous persons alert after multiple people were stabbed in the James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, Sask.
Saskatchewan RCMP Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, said police first received calls of a stabbing at 5:40 a.m. on the James Cree First Nation, and additional calls started coming in shortly thereafter.
“In the following minutes, we received multiple calls, reporting additional stabbings at different locations in the community,” Blackmore told media in a news conference Sunday afternoon. “Melfort RCMP officers and other resources were immediately dispatched to the locations in the community to help the victims and to track the two suspects.”
RCMP said they received a report that the two suspects may have been traveling in the Arcola Avenue area in Regina at 11:45 am Sunday, but the alert was extended to neighboring provinces as RCMP have not confirmed the sighting or located the suspects.
"As the suspects are at large, we have also asked for the alert to be extended to Manitoba and Alberta," RCMP said in a news release Sunday afternoon.
In the alert issued at 8:20 a.m. Sunday, RCMP said the suspects are believed to be in a black Nissan Rogue with Saskatchewan licence plate 119 MPI. At that point, as the suspects had access to a vehicle, the RCMP expanded the alert provincewide.
Police are asking Saskatchewan residents to take precautions and consider sheltering in place. RCMP said residents should be careful about allowing others into their home and to not leave a secure location.
A 10 a.m. CT update from the Saskatchewan RCMP said there are multiple victims in multiple locations and indicated at that point that it appeared victims were being attacked at random.
Police checkpoints have been set up throughout Saskatchewan, with RCMP checking identification.
Three STARS air ambulances were dispatched to James Smith Cree Nation early Sunday morning, the first at around 6 a.m.
The first crew from Saskatoon triaged patients at the scene, and the second aircraft brought a physician to the scene to lead the response.
With the physician included, there were 13 STARS crew in total who went to the scene.
Meanwhile ground ambulances transported patients to Prince Albert, Nipawin and Melfort hospitals.
The three STARS ambulances transported one patient each to the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has activated its emergency response policy to answer the influx of casualties, including calling for additional staff.
According to SHA multiple victims are being treated at multiple sites.
"As with any incident with a high number of casualties, our emergency preparedness teams are responding to the evolving needs to ensure patients are triaged and cared for appropriately," SHA said.
The Prince Albert Police Service and Regina Police Service are assisting Saskatchewan RCMP in searching for the two suspects.
In Prince Albert, police have checkpoints set up across the city.
In Regina, police are "actively investigating on several fronts to locate and arrest the suspects," the Regina Police Service said in a news release.
"In addition, RPS has deployed additional resources for public safety throughout the city, including the football game at Mosaic Stadium."
The Labour Day Classic CFL football game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers is scheduled to continue as planned with an increased police presence in the area.
