An RCMP chopper landing at an event at James Smith Cree Nation this fall. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By paNOW staff

Homicide

Sask homicide numbers jump with James Smith stabbings

Dec 13, 2022 | 9:49 AM

The RCMP have released their homicide statistics for the last seven years with a large jump this year due to the volume of victims from the James Smith killings.

Starting in January until December 9, RCMP has dealt with 39 homicides so far, with 30 of those male and nine female victims.

“In 2022, we’ve continued to see an increase in the number of homicides. The 11 homicides as the result of the September mass casualty have certainly added to those increased numbers. With under a month remaining in 2022, we have already surpassed the number of homicide victims year-over-year in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction,” said Superintendent Josh Graham, Officer in Charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes.

In 2021, there were 26 male victims and eight female deaths (34 total), an increase of three people compared to the 31 total homicides RCMP officers investigated in 2020.

The largest increase in recent years was the timeline between 2019 and 2020, however, with 20 investigations.

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Graham attributed the recent increases to gangs, adding that the homicide investigations are complex and have multiple suspects. They are difficult to investigate.

“These past three years have been challenging for our Major Crimes teams, but it is due to their professionalism, dedication and extensive experience that they have continued to investigate homicides until charges are laid or all investigative avenues have been exhausted,” said Graham,

Officer numbers have not kept pace with the increased homicides and the volume of work needed to make sure a case is ready for prosecution.

In the last two years, there have been several incidents with multiple homicides clustered together.

Examples include five victims dying in four separate investigations that happened in one week in September of 2021 and a similar cluster in November.

The next month saw six victims in five different incidents.

Just this past November, RCMP started investigations into homicides in Melville, Waterhen Lake (Meadow Lake), Weyakin (Waskesiu), Keeseekoose and One Arrow.

Numbers do not include homicides that happen in the jurisdiction of municipal police forces, such as Prince Albert, Saskatoon or Regina.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow