Wednesday marked the fourth day of the search for the final suspect in Canada’s deadly stabbing spree, after police concluded that a recent sighting of the guy was a false alarm.
The location of 30-year-old Myles Sanderson was unclear as of Wednesday morning. He is suspected to be in Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan, approximately 290 kilometers south of where he was last seen.
Several members of the indigenous James Smith Cree Nation reported spotting Sanderson on their reservation on Tuesday afternoon, prompting officials in Saskatchewan to issue a shelter-in-place order.
The Guardian claimed that armed officers had surrounded a residence and sealed off the neighborhood.
However, two hours later, police issued an alert stating that the sighting was a false alarm, the site reported.
Sanderson and his 31-year-old brother, Damien Sanderson, have been the subject of a police manhunt following an incident on Sunday that left 10 people dead and 18 others injured in and around the James Smith Cree Nation’s reservation.
Damien Sanderson was discovered dead on Monday, and his wounds did not appear to be self-inflicted, according to Regina Police Chief Evan Bray.
According to a police spokesperson, Myles Sanderson is suspected to be hurt and may seek medical assistance.
CNN quotes Rhonda Blackmore, commanding commander of the Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as saying, “Even if he is hurt, it does not mean he is no longer dangerous.”
On Sunday, the James Smith Cree Nation declared a state of emergency and established two emergency operation centers to offer community members with health support.
The RCMP believes that some of the victims were chosen at random, while others were predetermined, but has provided no plausible motive for the attacks.
The Washington Post said that Sanderson has a two-decade history of violence dating back to his boyhood, according to a document from the Parole Board of Canada.
According to the paper, he was convicted of 59 offenses as an adult, including assault and robbery. Since May, he has been regarded “illegally at large” since he has failed to report to his parole officer.
The board stated that the Sandersons were raised in an environment of marital violence and abuse, and that Myles Sanderson began using drugs and alcohol as a child, as reported by The Post.
The brothers belonged to Indigenous communities, which may have led to Myles Sanderson’s engagement in the criminal justice system as a result of the “intergenerational repercussions” of disadvantages endured by First Nations members, according to the board, as reported by the outlet.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada called the attacks as “horrific and tragic” and stated that officials were “closely monitoring the situation.”
The press secretary of the White House, Karine Jean-Pierre, described the mass stabbing as “senseless” and “devastating.”
She stated on Tuesday, “We stand with Canada, our ally and neighbor, and all those touched by this tragedy, and we condemn this senseless violence.”