Saskatchewan RCMP say 10 dead, 15 hospitalized after stabbings, suspects still at large

Melfort RCMP have issued a provincewide dangerous persons alert after multiple people were stabbed in the James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, Sask.

RCMP said in a press conference at 3:40 CT that they found 10 people deceased and at least 15 people have been hospitalized. RCMP said they found 13 incident locations in James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon.

“There may be additional injured victims who transported themselves to various hospitals,” Rhonda Blackmore, commanding officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP, said.

“We are currently actively looking for [them], dedicating maximum resources to this.”

RCMP said they received a report that the two suspects, identified as Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson, may have been travelling in the Arcola Avenue area in Regina. Regina Police said a possible sighting of the suspects was reported around 11:20 a.m.

An RCMP alert was first issued at 7:12 a.m. CT Sunday and has since had several updates. RCMP said two male suspects are believed to be in a black Nissan Rogue with Saskatchewan licence plate 119 MPI. As the suspects may have access to a vehicle, the RCMP have expanded the alert provincewide.

With the suspects at large, Blackmore said they had also asked for the alert to be extended to Manitoba and Alberta.

“At this point in time, we have no indication they travelled to another province,” she said.

Damien Sanderson is 31 years old, five feet seven inches tall, weighing 155 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Myles Sanderson is 30 years old, six feet and one inch tall and 240 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Blackmore said at the press conference the relationship between the suspects is presently unclear.

Remain vigilant: RCMP

The location and direction of the suspects’ travel is unknown, Blackmore said, but everyone in Saskatchewan needs to remain vigilant as this is one of the largest and most significant events they have seen in recent years.

“We don’t know if they have changed their vehicle,” she said. “At this stage in our investigation, we believe some victims have been targeted by the suspect and others have been attacked randomly.”

Police are asking Regina 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.

Residents in the Regina area are also being advised to not approach suspicious persons and to not pick up hitchhikers.

Instead, the RCMP said they should report suspicious persons, emergencies or information to 911. They are also being asked to not share the locations of police.

James Smith Cree Nation state of emergency

In response to the “mass casualties” on James Smith Cree Nation the community, along with the Chakastaypasin Band of the Cree Nation and Peter Chapman Band, declared a state of emergency at noon Sunday.

It’s set to remain in place until 5 p.m. on Sept 30.

James Smith Cree Nation has a population around 1,000 people, and is located about 60 kilometres southeast of Prince Albert and about 300 kilometres north of Regina.

The village of Weldon, with a population just shy of 200, is about 25 kilometres southwest of James Smith Cree Nation and about 60 kilometres southeast of Prince Albert.

Police checkpoints have been set up throughout Saskatchewan, at least from Prince Albert to Regina, with officers checking identification.

STARS response

Three STARS air ambulances were dispatched to James Smith Cree Nation starting at around 6 a.m. CT Sunday.

Mark Oddan, a STARS air ambulance spokesperson, told CBC News said two of those helicopters were sent from Saskatoon and one from Regina.

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 crew in total who attended the scene.

Other ground crews transported patients to Prince Albert, Nipawin and Melfort hospitals, Oddan said in the email.

The three STARS ambulances transported one patient each to the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. Two patients were taken from the scene and one was transported from the hospital in Melfort where they had arrived via ground ambulance.

Hospitals call for staff

Anne Lindemann, a spokesperson for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), said in an email the health authority activated its emergency response process to answer the “influx of casualties,” including calling for additional staff.

The SHA did not specify how many people were injured in the stabbings and did not confirm any deaths at the time, but said multiple people are being triaged and cared for 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,” it said.

Prince Albert, Regina police assist manhunt

The Prince Albert Police Service and Regina Police Service are assisting Saskatchewan RCMP in searching for the two suspects.

In Prince Albert, police said officers are occupying checkpoints across the city.

Residents are being asked to stay at a secure location and to be cautious around letting anyone inside their home.

Motorists and residents should also expect traffic delays.

In Regina, police are “actively investigating on several fronts to locate and arrest the suspects,” the 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, including in Mosaic Stadium.

Sask. premier, prime minister offer condolences

In the wake of the stabbing spree, both the prime minister and the province’s premier offered their condolences on social media.

“The attacks in Saskatchewan today are horrific and heartbreaking. I’m thinking of those who have lost a loved one and of those who were injured,” wrote Justin Trudeau on Twitter.

Trudeau also thanked the first responders and added that the Canadian government is “closely monitoring the situation.”

Scott Moe thanked police, first responders and the health-care professionals who are treating the victims as well.

He also offered his condolences to the victims’ friends and family, on behalf of the Saskatchewan government.

“There are no words to adequately describe the pain and loss caused by this senseless violence. All of Saskatchewan grieves with the victims and their families,” Moe wrote in a tweet.