Saskatchewan RCMP are investigating whether a new report of a firearm being discharged is connected to a deadly shooting that occurred just days earlier on the Big Island Lake Cree Nation.
Friday Night Gunfire Prompts Police Search
According to an RCMP media release issued Saturday afternoon, police received multiple reports of the sound of a firearm going off on Friday, January 2nd, at approximately 10:50 p.m. Officers immediately responded and conducted a search of the area. Fortunately, no injured persons were located during that search.
Connection to December 30th Shooting Under Investigation
The Friday night incident comes just days after a violent shooting rocked the same First Nations community. On the morning of December 30th, a shooting left a 31-year-old man dead and sent three other people to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Following that shooting, RCMP issued a dangerous persons alert for two armed suspects, describing them as dangerous. The alert was cancelled later that same day when police determined there was no longer an "imminent risk to public safety." The suspects from that incident have not yet been publicly identified or located.
In their statement regarding the new gunfire reports, RCMP confirmed, "Part of this will be determining if there is any connection to the Dec. 30 shooting on Big Island Lake Cree Nation, which remains under active investigation by Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime investigators."
Community Sees Increased Police Presence
The RCMP has assured residents that the community will notice an increased police presence as both investigations continue. Insp. Ashley St. Germaine, speaking at a December 30th news conference, emphasized the force's commitment: "We are working as efficiently and diligently as possible to try to determine who’s responsible for this homicide and this shooting, and make sure that we can restore that safe mind concept to the community as best as we can."
Police are also working to determine if the December 30th shooting was a random act or a targeted attack.
Big Island Lake Cree Nation is located approximately 390 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, between the communities of Pierceland and Goodsoil.
RCMP are urging anyone with information about either incident to come forward. Information can be reported directly to RCMP at 310-RCMP or submitted anonymously to Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
