Saskatoon Police Officer Recounts Immediate Response to Fatal Shooting Incident
The first officer to arrive at a Westmount neighbourhood residence following a violent shooting in February 2024 provided detailed testimony about her life-saving efforts during a Saskatoon court proceeding this week. Constable Erin Anthony described the chaotic scene she encountered at 238 Avenue K North, where 48-year-old Arden Panipekeesick had sustained a gunshot wound to the neck.
Graphic Scene Described in Court Testimony
On Wednesday morning, Constable Anthony told a Saskatoon Court of King's Bench jury that she found Panipekeesick covered in blood from head to toe when she entered the home. The officer testified that despite the extensive blood coverage, she did not observe any firearms or shell casings in the immediate vicinity as she began emergency medical assistance.
"They were kind of almost just staring up," Anthony told jurors when describing Panipekeesick's open but unmoving eyes. She noted that the victim did not appear to be breathing when she arrived at the scene.
Immediate Medical Intervention Attempted
Constable Anthony explained that she provided immediate first aid to Panipekeesick, administering CPR until additional officers and paramedics arrived on the scene. She estimated that she remained the sole officer present for several minutes before receiving backup support.
The officer's arrival had been captured on surveillance video, which was presented to the jury on Tuesday. Anthony testified that someone flagged down her police vehicle as she approached the residence, alerting her to the emergency situation.
Partner's Testimony Provides Context
Eva Pritchard, Panipekeesick's longtime partner, provided additional context during her testimony on Tuesday. She told jurors that the incident began with an exchange of gunfire between Panipekeesick and 23-year-old Katlim Kristian John Desjarlais-Kelly, whose second-degree murder trial commenced this week.
Pritchard described Desjarlais-Kelly as someone she had met only once before the fatal encounter. According to her testimony, after an initial argument and exchange of gunshots, Desjarlais-Kelly left the home but subsequently returned and shot Panipekeesick in the neck.
Constable Anthony testified that when she entered the residence, she found Pritchard in the kitchen, holding the wounded Panipekeesick and screaming for help.
Tragic Outcome Despite Emergency Response
Despite the immediate medical intervention attempted by Constable Anthony and subsequent emergency personnel, Panipekeesick was pronounced dead once paramedics arrived at the scene. Desjarlais-Kelly was arrested shortly after the incident, leading to the current court proceedings.
The ongoing trial continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the February 10, 2024 shooting that resulted in Panipekeesick's death. Constable Anthony's testimony provides crucial insight into the initial police response and the desperate attempts to save the victim's life during those critical first minutes following the violent incident.
