Melfort RCMP have issued a province-wide dangerous person alert after several people were stabbed in the James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, Sask.
The RCMP said at a news conference at 3:40 CT that they found 10 people dead in 13 locations and at least 15 people have been hospitalized.
“There could be more injuries,” said Saskatchewan RCMP commanding officer Rhonda Blackmore.
“At the moment we are actively looking for it, devoting maximum resources to it”.
RCMP said they received a report that the two suspects, identified as Damien Sanderson and Myles Sanderson, may have been traveling in the area of Arcola Avenue in Regina. Regina police said the suspects were spotted around 11:20 a.m
“Since the suspects are at large, we have also requested that the alert be extended to Manitoba and Alberta,” the RCMP said in a press release shortly after noon Sunday.
In an alert issued at 8:20 a.m. CT Sunday, RCMP said two male suspects are believed to be in a black Nissan Rogue with Saskatchewan license plate 119 MPI. Because the suspects may have access to a vehicle, the RCMP has expanded the alert across the province.
Blackmore said at the press conference that the location and direction of travel of the suspects are unknown.
“We don’t know if they changed vehicles,” he said.
RCMP are searching for Damien Sanderson, left, and Myles Sanderson. Damien is described as five feet seven inches tall, about 155 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Police say Myles is six feet, one inch tall, about 240 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. (RCMP)
Police are asking Regina residents to take precautions and consider sheltering in. RCMP said residents should be careful about allowing others into their homes and not leaving a safe place.
A 10 a.m. CT update from Saskatchewan RCMP said there are multiple victims in multiple locations and it appears the victims are being attacked at random.
Weldon is located about 50 kilometers southeast of Prince Albert and about 25 kilometers southwest of James Smith Cree Nation.
In response to the “mass casualties” in the James Smith Cree Nation, the community, along with the Chakastaypasin Band of the Cree Nation and the Peter Chapman Band, declared a state of emergency at noon Sunday.
It will remain in place until 5pm on September 30.
Damien Sanderson is described as five feet seven inches tall, weighing 155 pounds. with black hair and brown eyes.
Myles Sanderson is listed as six feet one inch tall and 240 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Sask. The RCMP issued a province-wide alert on Sunday, which later expanded to Alberta and Manitoba, after the stabbings in the James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, Sask. (CBC Graphics)
The alert was first issued at 7:12 a.m. CT Sunday and has had several updates since then.
Residents of the Regina area are also advised to stay away from suspicious people and to avoid hitchhiking.
Instead, the RCMP said they should report suspicious persons, emergencies or information to 911.
They are also asked not to share police locations.
Police checkpoints have been set up across Saskatchewan, from at least Prince Albert to Regina, with officers checking identification.
Answer STARS
Three STARS air ambulances were dispatched to the James Smith Cree Nation, the first around 6 a.m. CT Sunday.
Mark Oddan, a spokesman for STARS Air Ambulance, told CBC News that two of those helicopters were dispatched from Saskatoon and one from Regina.
The first crew from Saskatoon triaged patients at the scene and the second plane brought a medic to the scene to lead the response.
Including the doctor, there were 13 crew members in total who attended the scene.
Other ground crews transported patients to Prince Albert, Nipawin and Melfort hospitals, Oddan said in the email.
The three STARS ambulances transported one patient each to the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. Two patients were taken from the scene and one was taken from the Melfort hospital where they had arrived by ground ambulance.
Hospitals require staff
Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) spokeswoman Anne Lindemann said in an email that the health authority activated its emergency response process to respond to the “influx of casualties,” including the call for additional staff.
The SH did not specify how many people were injured in the stabbings or whether any deaths had been confirmed, but said several people were being picked up and treated at various locations.
“As with any high-casualty incident, our emergency preparedness teams are responding to evolving needs to ensure patients are triaged and treated appropriately,” he said.
Prince Albert, Regina police assist in manhunt
The Prince Albert Police Service and the Regina Police Service are assisting the Saskatchewan RCMP in searching for the two suspects.
In Prince Albert, police said officers are manning checkpoints throughout the city.
Residents are asked to stay safe and be careful about letting anyone into their homes.
Motorists and residents should also expect traffic delays.
In Regina, police are “actively investigating on multiple fronts to locate and arrest the suspects,” the service said in a news release.
“Additionally, RPS has deployed additional resources for public safety throughout the city, including the football game at Mosaic Stadium.”
The Classic Labor Day CFL football game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is scheduled to go on as planned with an increased police presence in the area, including at Mosaic Stadium.