Authorities said Tuesday that the second of two suspects in a weekend stabbing spree in Canada was allegedly spotted on the Indigenous reserve where some of the crimes occurred. The Saskatchewan RCMP stated that residents of the James Smith Cree Nation were ordered to remain indoors.
The RCMP is its route to the scene and has advised locals not to approach the suspect. Residents were instructed to phone 911 to report any suspicious sightings or information.
On Tuesday afternoon, a reporter for the Associated Press heard screams and observed police surrounding a home on the James Smith Cree First Nation.
A phone-based notice advised individuals to seek refuge in place.
Myles Sanderson, 30, has been the subject of an intensive manhunt in the days following a stabbing spree that resulted in 10 deaths and 19 injuries. Monday, his 31-year-old brother, Damien Sanderson, was discovered dead outside a residence. The two were charged with murder and other counts in connection with one of the nation’s bloodiest mass shootings.
Damien had “visible injuries” that were not consistent with self-infliction. The Saskatchewan coroner’s office will identify the exact cause of death, Saskatchewan RCMP commanding officer Rhonda Blackmore told reporters at a Monday press briefing.
Myles Sanderson was last seen in Regina, the provincial capital, more than 300 miles distant from the scene of the stabbings, according to Regina Police Chief Evan Bray. Police said earlier on Monday that a vehicle carrying the two suspects had been spotted in the Regina region. They may be driving a black Nissan Rogue, according to the police.
Damien’s death pushed the total number of fatalities in the incident to 11, along with 19 injured people and 13 crime sites, according to Blackmore.
The stabbings prompted the James Smith Cree Nation to declare a state of emergency and shocked the neighbouring community of Weldon.
According to police, the reason for the attacks is unknown. Blackmore stated that it appears that some of the victims were targeted by the perpetrators, while others were struck at random.
Although authorities have not established a motive, the chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations suggested that the stabbings were drug-related in a statement.