Monday, September 05, 2022

A terrible day in Saskatchewan

This morning we woke up to the alerts on our cell phones: Ten dead, at least 15 hospitalized -- the news about this horrific tragedy has now gone around the world - I saw tweets tonight from many countries, and reports of many people overseas calling loved ones here to make sure they were OK. 
The James Smith Cree Nation and the town of Weldon are north of Saskatoon -- here is an Associated Press map.

 5:40 a.m. – RCMP receives multiple calls from James Smith Cree Nation about stabbings at different locations. 
 7:12 a.m. – Saskatchewan RCMP issues dangerous persons alert, says police trying to locate two suspects. Area residents of James Smith Cree Nation and surrounding communities of Candle Lake, Prince Albert, Melfort, Humboldt and Rosthern told to seek immediate shelter, use caution. 
 7:57 a.m. – RCMP releases names and photos of suspects: Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson. Damien Sanderson is described as five-feet-seven inches, 155 pounds with black hair, brown eyes. Myles Sanderson was described as six-feet-one inch, 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. 
 8:20 a.m. – RCMP extends dangerous persons alert to province of Saskatchewan, saying the suspects are believed to be travelling in a vehicle. 
 9:45 a.m. – RCMP issues fourth dangerous persons alert saying there have been multiple victims in multiple locations, at least one at James Smith Cree Nation and another victim at Weldon. Some of the attacks appear to be random. 
 11:25 a.m. – RCMP sends request to Mounties in Manitoba and Alberta to extend dangerous persons alert to their provinces. 
 12:07p.m. – RCMP issues fifth update saying witnesses report seeing suspect vehicle in Regina on Arcola Ave. Residents asked to shelter in place. The vehicle is described as a black Nissan Rogue with Saskatchewan license plate 119 MPI. 
 3:45 p.m. – RCMP announces 10 people have been killed and 15 others injured in the attacks, which they say took place across 13 locations. 
Regina police released this update earlier this evening: Some information is now being posted online in memory and tribute to the people we have lost and the Associated Press is also reporting on some of the victims tonight. I had thought I might copy some of these tweets and excerpts but then I reconsidered - I think its more respectful to wait a bit until official announcements are made.
But here is an incredible series of tweets I saw tonight. First, these: And then these:

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The RCMP is once again looking incompetent. They've been searching for Myles Sanderson since May, when he skipped out on parole. He had been serving a nearly five-year federal sentence for assault, robbery, mischief and uttering threats.

After the stabbings, the RCMP released mug shots of the two suspects, but the one for Myles was wrong and showed someone else. No wonder they couldn't find him!

Cap

Cathie from Canada said...

Thanks for the comment -- these guys have been problems for a long time, it sounds like. At least this time the RCMP got onto the alert systems quickly and everyone was warned in time - there were news reports that a household refused them admittance because of the alert so it saved lives.