On January 27, 2022, at approximately 4:15 am, Thompson RCMP received a report of an assault with a weapon, on Sayisi Dene First Nation, Manitoba.
It was reported that a 21-year-old male had attended a residence in the community and bear-sprayed three individuals. A second call was received at 5:50 am where the same suspect assaulted two adults, a male and a female, while in possession of a knife and then fled. The information also indicated that he may be in possession of a firearm.
RCMP officers from Thompson, along with Police Dog Services from the Pas, responded to the incident.
When officers arrived in the area, community members advised that they had confronted the suspect and taken his firearm. During the confrontation the firearm discharged, however, nobody was injured. It was also reported that the suspect had access to additional firearms.
Officers made patrols throughout the community and followed up on all reported sightings. The RCMP Emergency Response Team(ERT), was deployed to Tadoule Lake.
On January 27, 2022, at approximately 8:00 pm, ERT arrived in Tadoule Lake.
Efforts to locate the suspect continued throughout the night and into the next day, but were unsuccessful.
On January 28, 2022, ERT had to redeploy on another call so additional RCMP resources were brought into the community to assist.
At approximately 8:00 pm that evening, RCMP officers received information on the location of the suspect.
Officers immediately responded and located the armed suspect outside of a residence in the community. As officers tried to get the suspect to drop the weapon through verbal commands, the male suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officers provided first aid, and transported him to the nursing station, where he was pronounced deceased.
The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has been notified and will be investigating.