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One person is dead, three are injured and the alleged shooter is on the run in or near a remote Saskatchewan community, police say, urging local residents to shelter in place.
Around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the RCMP issued the warning for Big Island Cree Nation and the surrounding area, which is 3.5 hours from Edmonton and four hours from Saskatoon.
“There are two dangerous persons with a gun in the area of Big Island Lake Cree Nation,” police said. “The suspects were last seen on an ATV on Big Island Lake Cree Nation.”
The RCMP said officers were responding.
The call first came to local police at around 6 a.m. The first responders who rushed to the scene found one person dead and three more with injuries. Police could not share the extent of the injuries.
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“Saskatchewan RCMP is working to determine whether the shooting is random in nature or targeted,” the force said in a statement.
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Perry Lasas, head of security in Big Island Lake, said he had been told by police to shut access in and out of the community down.
“I was told to lock down the reserve, so that’s what we’re doing right now,” he told Global News. “Nobody in, nobody out except for medical people and cops.”
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He said a roadblock was in place, with three ambulances leaving in the morning. While there have been lockdowns before, he said the current situation seemed more serious.
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“I think this one’s much more serious because of all the cops and investigators,” he said. “The van that just came in was more cops.”
The Saskatchewan government said seven health care facilities were in lockdown, and police said the two suspects were still outstanding.
The facilities in lockdown are:
Paradise Hill Health CentreSt. Walburg Health ComplexLoon Lake Health Centre and Special Care HomeL. Gervais Memorial Health CentreNorthwest Community LodgeMeadow Lake Primary HealthMeadow Lake Hospital
Anyone in the area should find a safe location and shelter inside with the doors locked, officers said.
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