RCMP confirm both stabbing suspects are dead; detail response by police

At 2:07 p.m., Blackmore said police received a report that Sanderson, who was armed with a knife, stole a truck from a property in Wakaw and fled. The homeowner was not injured. A Rosthern RCMP officer in an unmarked vehicle noticed the stolen truck travelling at approximately 150 kilometres per hour on Hwy 11 south of Rosthern. All police resources in the area were dispatched and officers directed the stolen truck off the road into a nearby ditch. Myles Sanderson was identified and arrested. A knife was found inside the truck.

Blackmore said shortly after he was taken into custody, Sanderson went into medical distress. Police officers on scene performed life-saving measures until an ambulance arrived. He was transported to a hospital in Saskatoon where he was pronounced deceased.

RCMP captured Sanderson on Hwy 11 near Rosthern. (Submitted photo/Danny Kid CKBI)

Eric Willie told 650 CKOM/980 CJME he was leaving Rosthern when he saw police vehicles heading south towards Saskatoon. Shortly after that, he came across the vehicles scattered across the road.

“It appears that they’d pushed a fellow in a white SUV or pickup truck into the ditch,” Willie said. “(There were) lots of skidmarks on the highway.

“As I was passing by, they hauled the fellow out of the car, had him in handcuffs and he appeared to be chuckling, which is beyond my comprehension.”

Willie said some police officers had their guns drawn while others were dealing with Sanderson.

Witnesses reported seeing Sanderson being loaded into an ambulance. Blackmore said she could not speak to the specific manner of his death.

“We have asked the Saskatoon Police Service and the Saskatchewan Incident Response Team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident,” said Blackmore.

RESPONSE AND RESOURCES

Blackmore also detailed the initial response time by officers who were at the Melfort Detachment, approximately 45 kilometres away from James Smith Cree Nation on the morning of Sept. 4.

The first report of a stabbing came in at 5:40 a.m. and officers were dispatched at 5:43 a.m. The second report of injuries on the First Nation came in at 5:59 a.m. RCMP officers arrived at the first scene at 6:18 a.m. Two minutes later, one of the two officers left the first scene to go to another scene on the First Nation and arrived there 12 minutes later. At 6:35 a.m., due to the significant risk to public safety that had been identified, the Saskatchewan RCMP prepared to initiate a Dangerous Persons alert about Myles Sanderson and his brother Damien. It was issued at 7:12 a.m.

“The magnitude of this investigation is immense. Over the past four days over 160 Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, and Ontario RCMP and municipal partner agency employees, both police officers and civilians have been working nonstop on this investigation,” said Blackmore.

Officers from across Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta assisted in the 4-day investigation. (Submitted photo/Danny Kid CKBI)

Police used every technological and human investigative tactic and resource available to them and have already conducted over 150 interviews with witnesses and over 400 investigative tasks have taken place. A total of 11 emergency alerts were issued by RCMP during what Blackmore called a ‘critical and rapidly unfolding situation.’

Prior to his capture, police had already charged Myles Sanderson with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of break and enter. They said more charges were likely.

Myles Sanderson had a lengthy criminal past featuring 59 convictions according to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). He was serving a federal sentence of more than four years that started in September 2018 but became unlawfully at large for breaching the conditions of his statutory release in August of 2021. The Public Safety Minister said the Parole Board of Canada will review its decision to release Sanderson.

The body of his brother Damien was found on the James Smith Cree Nation during the investigation on Monday. Police said Damien’s injuries were not self-inflicted and they were determining whether his brother had a part in his death. Before his body was found, Damien Sanderson had been charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of break and enter. Blackmore confirmed he is still a suspect in what has become one of the worst mass killings in the country’s history.

The victims of Sunday’s mass casualty in James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, Saskatchewan. (submitted photos/RCMP)

FAMILIES IN MOURNING

There were 10 deceased victims in the attack and another 18 were injured over 13 crime scenes between James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, SK. Two patients are still in critical condition according to the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Late Wednesday morning, families of the victims held a press conference in Saskatoon.

Saskatoon Tribal Chief Mark Arcand lost his nephew Gregory Burns, and his sister Bonnie Burns in the attack. He said she died trying to protect her children who witnessed the event. Another woman who came to help Arcand’s sister also died at the scene.

“I tried to sleep that night and I woke up in the middle of the night just screaming…yelling…cause what I seen that day, I can’t get it out of my head,” he said.

Arcand also acknowledged another nephew who was present at the press conference noting he survived the attack despite being stabbed in the neck. He said words can’t express the pain the victims and their families are feeling.

Now that both suspects are deceased, Blackmore said we may never have an understanding for the motive of the attacks.

Nationwide support is available 24/7 for Indigenous peoples through the Hope for Wellness website and helpline: 1-855-242-3310.

—

panews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertNOW

by Teena Monteleone

RCMP confirm both stabbing suspects are dead; detail response by police

What's Trending