CUMBERLAND HOUSE CREE NATION — Following the Saskatchewan RCMP issuing a public safety alert for a dangerous person with a firearm in Cumberland House Cree Nation, they have confirmed that one man is deceased.
RCMP issued the alert Thursday evening and when Critical Incident Response Team officers were able to enter the residence at the scene they located an injured male. Emergency medical care was provided by RCMP officers with advanced medical training on scene and the man was transported to hospital by EMS where he was declared deceased.
He has been identified as a 22-year-old male from Prince Albert. His family has been notified and Saskatchewan RCMP say they are not releasing his name.
Thursday, RCMP said the four other individuals arrested during the incident remain in custody and the investigation continues. Details on charges will be provided when available, say RCMP.
When an incident involves a death or serious injury, the RCMP Act requires that an investigation be conducted by an external agency. The Saskatchewan RCMP has requested the Moose Jaw Police Service conduct the independent, external investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. The Saskatchewan RCMP has also requested the Ministry of Justice appoint an independent investigation observer in accordance with Section 91.1 of the Saskatchewan Police Act.
The timeline as laid out by RCMP
• June 2, Cumberland House RCMP received information that a male wanted on a warrant for assaulting a police officer was on Cumberland House Cree Nation. Officers contained a residence on Pemmican Portage Avenue, then observed a male on the property with a firearm. They immediately requested additional Saskatchewan RCMP officers to assist. This included the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Critical Incident Response Team, which deployed immediately
• At 1:13 p.m., Saskatchewan RCMP issued a civil emergency alert, an action reserved for the most dangerous of situations, asking people to stay inside their homes, lock their doors/windows and to avoid picking up hitchhikers. The alert was broadcast to all cell phones in the Cumberland House Cree Nation and Cumberland House area and information was also issued via media release and social media.
The Nisto Awasisak Memorial School enacted hold-and-secure protocols and multiple people were evacuated from residences in the vicinity of the incident.
• Immediately after the alert was issued, two individuals inside the residence surrendered and were arrested. A third person later also surrendered and was arrested. Officers located and seized a loaded firearm from one of the individuals.
• At 3:18 p.m., RCMP issued a second civil emergency alert, media release and social media posts advising the public that occupants still inside the residence had begun discharging firearms from within the residence.
CIRT officers used a variety of tactics in an effort to have occupants stop discharging firearms and exit the residence. They did not comply. Shots were exchanged between an occupant and CIRT officers.
• At approximately 4:50 p.m., a male exited the residence. He was arrested without incident and taken to hospital for a medical condition unrelated to the incident. He informed officers there was another injured male in the residence.
CIRT officers entered the residence and located the injured male. Emergency medical care was provided by RCMP officers with advanced medical training on scene. The man was transported to hospital by EMS where he was declared deceased.
The RCMP Critical Incident Response Team
Saskatchewan RCMP polices much of the province. CIRT members are posted throughout the province and are able to quickly depart to a scene.
In 2021, CIRT responded to 52 emergency incidents. Members also participate in regular training sessions as well as mandatory debriefs after each incident.
More information about the Saskatchewan Critical Incident Response Team can be found on the RCMP website.
