By paNOW Staff

Charges laid against suspected gunman in La Loche

Jan 23, 2016 | 2:18 PM

RCMP have confirmed the charges against the 17-year-old suspect in the La Loche high school shooting.

He faces four counts of first degree murder, seven counts of attempted murder and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

RCMP Supt. Grant St. Germaine, “F” Division North District Commander, said officers pursued the suspect into the school, where he was taken into custody at gunpoint.

Germaine said the gunman was loose in the school for eight to 10 minutes and that it took only a few minutes to take the suspect into custody. He was apprehended at 1:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22. 

It’s currently unknown if it was a random or targeted shooting. Nine people were hit, four fatally.

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Marie Janvier, 21, and Adam Wood, 35, who both worked at the La Loche Community School’s Dene High School, were shot and killed. Janvier was declared deceased at the school. Wood was taken to the La Loche Health Centre where he later died.

Brothers Dayne and Drayden Fontaine, 17 and 13 respectively, were found dead in a La Loche residence.

Germaine could not confirm the connection between the suspected shooter and the Fontaine brothers.

“There’s never been a school shooting of this magnitude in the country,” Germaine said. “It’ll have a huge impact. I think it’s part of changing times. We’re seeing what appears to be more violence for unrelated [reasons] and not being able to account for why they took place. I don’t know if it’s a sign of the times or what it is.”

Four victims were taken to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. The remaining three victims will be transferred there at a later date.

La Loche acting mayor Kevin Janvier said he was thankful for support flowing into La Loche from across the country, saying the “emotional and mental wounds will take years to heal.”

He said his role is to keep the community at large calm, and help investigators do their job.

“We’re gonna take it step by step. Every individual in La Loche has been wounded by this event. Hearts have been broken. Our faith has been shaken.”

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said support for grieving families will be in La Loche for as long as necessary. “Knowing full well that none of these efforts will ever come close to addressing the loss that was inflected on the families and on the friends and on an entire community, we will be there for them.”

Wall will be in La Loche on Sunday. 

“Nothing will ever fully heal the loss of four lives, and the wound that was inflicted on an entire community and really on an entire province. But that some province is going to be there for that community.”

The investigation is ongoing, and will be for some time. Germaine thanked the public for being patient with the investigation, and giving investigators space. 

The suspect will make his first court appearance next week.

news@panow.com

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