UPDATE: RCMP say suspect in Saskatchewan stabbing rampage found dead, brother still at large

UPDATE:

One of two brothers sought following a stabbing rampage in Saskatchewan was found dead Monday in a grassy field not far from where 10 others lost their lives and many more were injured on the weekend.

Meanwhile, police said the other brother who has a violent criminal record and is considered dangerous, remained on the loose, but he may be injured.

Police said the body of Damien Sanderson, 31, was found Monday morning on the James Smith Cree Nation.

Police had been looking for him and his brother Myles Sanderson, 30, since the attacks early Sunday at 13 locations in and around the First Nation and the nearby village of Weldon, northeast of Saskatoon.

Police believe some of the victims were targeted and others were chosen at random. No motive for the attacks has been given.

Rhonda Blackmore, the assistant RCMP commissioner in charge of Saskatchewan, told reporters Damien Sanderson’s body was found in an area not far from one of the crime scenes.

“He has visible injuries. His injuries are not believed to be self-inflicted,” she said.

Blackmore said Myles Sanderson has a lengthy criminal record for property crimes and violence against people. A Crime Stoppers bulletin was also issued for him in May, warning he was unlawfully at large. He has been charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and break and enter in the stabbings.

“Even if he is injured, it doesn’t mean he is not still dangerous,” Blackmore said.

Asked if Myles Sanderson was responsible for his brother’s death, Blackmore said police are investigating that possibility, but ‘”we can’t say that definitively at this point in time.”

Since Sunday morning, police have been scouring Regina, a three-hour drive south, following a report the two suspects had been seen in the reported getaway vehicle, a black Nissan Rogue.

Regina Police Chief Evan Bray said the hunt continues in the Saskatchewan capital, even with the one brother found dead.

“The most recent, reliable information we have says that (Myles) is in Regina or was in Regina,” said Bray.  “(The information) is a day old, we acknowledge that. But we have nothing that can tell us differently.

“Keep in mind, this is eyewitness information that provided details on seeing the car (and) confirming the plate.”

RCMP said 18 men and women were injured in the attacks, not including Myles Sanderson. None were children.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority said 17 went to various hospitals. Four were in critical condition Monday afternoon, nine were in stable condition and four had been released.

James Smith Cree Nation was closed to the public amid heavy police presence and some reporters were asked to leave.

Several media reports identified one of the dead as Lana Head, a 49 year-old mother of two daughters who worked as a security guard at a casino in nearby Prince Albert.

Media reports also identified Gloria Burns as a victim who died. Family said Burns was a first responder on the reserve, who went to a crisis call.

Eleanore Sunchild, a prominent Saskatchewan lawyer whose daughters have connections to the reserve, said she’s been talking with community members who are shocked, horrified and deep in grief. She said there is a feeling of helplessness.

“I feel an immense grief for the community,” Sunchild said.

Many victims were older people who held knowledge of history and tradition and Sunchild said when an elder dies, “a library dies.”

She has worked with thousands of residential school survivors and saw the trauma the institutions created through physical and sexual abuse. She said there needs to be counsellors and mental health supports immediately provided to communities.

Sunchild added that people are also worried about a backlash against Indigenous people. But, she said, what the tragedy should show is that communities need help and long-term investment in healing.

Sunchild said her heart breaks thinking of the community trying to plan 10 funerals.

The streets in Weldon were all but deserted Monday, with doors closed and curtains drawn, as police patrolled the area. Many residents declined media interviews.

Ruby Works stopped to place flowers outside the home of one victim identified by several residents as 77-year-old Wes Petterson.

Police have not said why they believe the remaining fugitive is injured. But Doreen Lees, an 89-year-old resident from Weldon, said she and her daughter thought they saw one of the suspects when a car came barrelling down her street early Sunday.

Lees said a man approached them and said he was hurt and needed help, but he took off when her daughter said she would call for help.

“He wouldn’t show his face. He had a big jacket over his face. We asked his name and he kind of mumbled his name twice and we still couldn’t get it,” she said. “He said his face was injured so bad he couldn’t show it.”

Lees said she was concerned and started to follow him, but her daughter told her to come back to the house.

The stabbings have made headlines around the world and words of support have poured in from every quarter.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, in a video posted to social media, said the province has augmented police with extra security, including protections at hospitals where some victims were being treated.

“Yesterday’s attacks were horrific beyond anything that any of us could ever imagine,” said Moe.

“There are no words to adequately describe the pain and loss suffered by the victims’ families — this loss caused by these evil, vicious, senseless attacks.

“All of Saskatchewan grieves with you.”

His office has said flags at provincial government buildings will be lowered to half-mast one day for each person killed.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa he has spoken to James Smith chiefs and with Moe.

“The federal government will be there with the resources necessary right now, in this time of crisis, but also will continue to work as partners in the weeks, months, and years to come through grieving and healing,” he said.

He said flags will also fly at half-mast at federal government buildings in Saskatchewan and at the Peace Tower in Ottawa.

“Sadly over these past years, tragedies like these have become all too commonplace,” he added.

“Saskatchewanians and Canadians will do what we always do in times of difficulty and anguish: we’ll be there for each other.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 5, 2022.

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‘Evil, vicious’: Warrants issued for stabbing suspects; search continues

Two fugitives sought in a massive manhunt following a rampage of stabbings that left 10 dead in Saskatchewan have been charged with first-degree murder.

Saskatchewan RCMP say Damien Sanderson, 31, and Myles Sanderson, 30, have also been charged with attempted murder and break and enter.

They say the number of injured rose Monday to 18 from 15.

“We are using every human, investigational and technological resource we have available to locate and arrest the persons responsible,” Rhonda Blackmore, the assistant RCMP commissioner in charge of Saskatchewan, said in a statement Monday.

“Hundreds of Saskatchewan RCMP staff are dedicated to this investigation — this includes operators taking 911 calls and tips, to front-line officers patrolling our streets to the on-scene specialized forensic and major crime unit teams.”

RCMP said the victims were attacked early Sunday at 13 locations in and around the James Smith Cree Nation and the nearby village of Weldon, northeast of Saskatoon.

Blackmore has said they believe some of the attacks were targeted and others were random but declined to provide details in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation.

Mounties said they continue to work with police in Regina following a tip Sunday that a black Nissan Rogue the suspects were thought to be travelling in was spotted in the capital city.

Residents in the neighbouring provinces of Alberta and Manitoba have also been warned to keep a lookout for the fugitives. Investigators said they are receiving help from RCMP in those provinces and other police agencies.

A Crime Stoppers bulletin was also issued in late May for Myles Sanderson, warning he was unlawfully at large.

In a video statement, Regina police Chief Evan Bray said, “We’ve got a fresh set of investigators and shifts coming in today that will take over this investigation and we will not stop this investigation until we have those two safely in custody.”

Blackmore and Bray were to hold a media availability in Regina on Monday afternoon to “discuss a development related to our ongoing investigation.”

Damien Sanderson is described as five feet, seven inches tall and 155 pounds, and Myles Sanderson as six-foot-one and 200 pounds. Both have black hair and brown eyes.

Police said the Nissan Rogue had Saskatchewan licence plate 119 MPI. They also said it’s possible the suspects have switched vehicles.

On Monday afternoon, RCMP issued another dangerous persons alert following a shooting 200 kilometres west on the Witchekan Lake First Nation. However, they said it was not believed to be connected to the stabbings.

There’s been no official word on the identities of the stabbing victims.

James Smith Cree Nation was closed to the public amid heavy police presence and some reporters were asked to leave.

The streets in Weldon were all but deserted, with doors closed and curtains drawn, as police patrolled the area. Many residents declined media interviews.

Ruby Works stopped to place flowers outside the home of one of the victims, identified by several residents as 77-year-old Wes Petterson.

Earlier, Doreen Lees, an 89-year-old resident from Weldon, said she and her daughter thought they saw one of the suspects when a car came barrelling down her street early Sunday.

Lees said a man approached them and said he was hurt and needed help, but he took off when her daughter said she would call for help.

“He wouldn’t show his face. He had a big jacket over his face. We asked his name and he kind of mumbled his name twice and we still couldn’t get it,” she said. “He said his face was injured so bad he couldn’t show it.”

Lees said she was concerned and started to follow him, but her daughter told her to come back to the house.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, in a video posted to social media, said the province has augmented police with extra security, including protections at hospitals where the victims are being treated.

“Yesterday’s attacks were horrific beyond anything that any of us could ever imagine,” said Moe.

“There are no words to adequately describe the pain and loss suffered by the victims’ families — this loss caused by these evil, vicious, senseless attacks.

“All of Saskatchewan grieves with you.”

His office has said flags at provincial government buildings will be lowered to half-mast one day for each person killed.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa he has spoken to James Smith chiefs and with Moe.

“The federal government will be there with the resources necessary right now, in this time of crisis, but also will continue to work as partners in the weeks, months, and years to come through grieving and healing,” he said.

He said flags will also fly at half-mast at federal government buildings in Saskatchewan and at the Peace Tower in Ottawa.

“Sadly over these past years, tragedies like these have become all too commonplace,” he added.

“Saskatchewanians and Canadians will do what we always do in times of difficulty and anguish: we’ll be there for each other.”

— With files from the Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 5, 2022.