Manhunt underway after burnt vehicle found in northern Manitoba used by suspects in B.C. homicides: RCMP

Police dogs, a droneand heavily armed officers are combing the area around Gillam, Man., as the search for two men wanted on Canada-wide warrants is in full swing.

On Wednesday, police confirmed aburnt-outvehicle foundoutside the northern townis the same one driven by two B.C. teens wanted in connection with threehomicides inBritish Columbia, according to the RCMP.

Police continue to scour northern Manitoba for Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18.

The men, both fromPort Alberni, B.C.,are suspectsintheshooting deaths of a tourist couple in northern B.C. last week and on Wednesday were charged with second-degree murderof a man whose body was found days later near Dease Lake, B.C.

Police have identified that manas Leonard Dyck of Vancouver. He was found dead on July 19at a highway pullout about twokilometres from a burnt-out camper truck, discovered the same day, south of theStikine River Bridge on B.C.'s Highway 37.

McLeod and Schmegelsky'sToyota Rav4was found on fire on Monday near Fox Lake Cree Nation, about 760 kilometres north of Winnipeg,north of the town ofGillam.

RCMP Cpl. Julie Courchainesaid Wednesday police believe the abandoned vehicle was driven by the two men.

Courchaine told reporters in Winnipeg there will be a "heavier police presence" in the Gillam area while investigators continue search for the men, whom police describe as armed and dangerous.

"These suspects should not be approached," she said.

If anyone does see either man, Courchaine said they should immediately call 911 or their local police service.

"We are investigating all tips and continuing to ask for the public's assistance," Courchaine said.

CBCNews has learned of a potential sighting in Split Lake, about 85 kilometres from Gillam, but the RCMP wouldn't say if McLeod and Schmegelskywere actually spotted there.

"The investigation is complex and if we have a confirmed sighting we will let everyone know as soon as possible," Courchaine said.

Police dogs have been sent to the area andRCMP say they've set up a road-stop at the intersection of Provincial Roads 280 and 290, leading into Gillam.

"Obviously we are looking at the terrain and you know different routes and what possibly could have happened," Courchaine said.

Officers could be seeing deploying a drone near a wooded area. Vehicles going in and out of the community are being searched.

The manhunt has people across northern Manitoba on alert.

Hardeep Sahota, who works in arestaurant at Kettle River Inn and Suites in Gillam, said she typically keeps the back door open for fresh air. Not on Wednesday, however.

"I was thinking maybe they might come from the back, so I just let close the back door. I have to be very careful, because they might be hungry and they will come and eat," she said.

She also had her son-in-law driveher to work on Wednesday, rather than walk as she normally would.

Tristan Schneider and the man he was travelling withwere pulled over in the Leaf Rapids area 325 kilometreswest of Gillam on Tuesday night by RCMP on the lookout for McLeod and Schmegelsky.

"It progressed all the way to me and my co-driver lying face down on the gravel, getting handcuffed [and police] asking where our IDs were,"Schneider said.

Police released both men once they confirmedthey were not McLeod and Schmegelsky.

Gillam Mayor Dwayne Formansaid it's understandable people are on edge.

"It's an unknown for anyone, as far aswhether they [suspects] are or are not in the community," he said.

Hisadvice for residents in the Gillam area isto "stay safe, stayindoors, and if you're travelling alone, I wouldn't recommend it. Travel in groups and keep your eyes open for any suspicious individuals."

Gillam is 55 kilometres southwest of Fox Lake Cree Nation, where the torchedSUV was found in bush off Highway 290 which links the two communities along the Nelson River.

Forman described the region, about 760 kilometres north of Winnipeg, as "all swamp, heavy trees" and sometimes visited by polar bearswhich, until now, have been the only strangers that have posed any danger.

Gillam, which has about1,200 people, isone of the northernmost towns in Manitoba accessible year-round by road. Many communities in that part of the province are isolated and accessible only by air or winter ice roads.

Forman said McLeod and Schmegelsky facelimited transportation routes out of the area, which now hasa heightened police presence as RCMP search for them.

"There's only one road in and one road out," he said, adding that if they're on foot, it'schallenging terrain.

"It's pretty rugged for them if they're trucking through the tree lines."

RCMP continue to use a check stopat the intersection of Highway 280 and Highway 290, the only road into Gillam.

The Ontario Provincial Police told CBC News they have issued a public safety warning to be on the lookout for Schmegelsky and McLeod but are not actively searching for them.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, an organization that represents northern Manitoba First Nations, warned residents of Fox Lake Cree Nation, a community in theGillam area,to be on alert.

"I encourage residents in the area of Fox Lake to remain vigilant while the RCMP conduct their search for these two suspects," said Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee in a statement.

On Monday, when McLeod and Schmegelsky were still considered missing oneday before the RCMP declared them to be the primary suspectsSchmegelsky's father, Alan, told CHEK News the men considered themselves survivalists.

He said they "liked to go into the woods and play war" and were trained in camouflage.

"If there's any hope that Bryer and Kam are alive, it's because they would have gone into the woods and they know how to hide, because they've been doing this for the last 2 years," he said, adding, "They're non-violent, they're good people. Never got in trouble or anything."

Lucas Fowler, 23, an Australian, andChynna Deese, 24, an American, were discovered gunned down along the side of the Alaska Highwaysouth of Liard Hot Springs, B.C., on July 15.

Four days later,McLeod and Schmegelsky's burnt-out truck was discoverednear the community of Dease Lake, more than 470 kilometres away from the first crime scene. The body of an unidentified man in his 50s or 60s was found two kilometres south of thattruck.

Police saidSchmegelsky and McLeod were laterspotted on surveillance video at a grocery store in northern Saskatchewan and believed travelling in thegrey 2011 Toyota RAV4.

The RCMP released images from that video Tuesday, showing McLeod wearing a T-shirt with a cartoon image with the caption "a wild Cathulhu appears" and Schmegelskywearing a camouflage-patterned jacket.

Both suspects are described as 6-foot-4 andabout 169 pounds.

McLeod is described as havingdark brown hair, facial hair and brown eyes. Schmegelsky is described as having sandy brown hair.

McLeod's dad, Keith, released the following statement on Wednesday, noting he's not ready for an interview, because he's "not able to make it through a sentence without breaking down."

"To all the people who truly care.

"I'm sitting at home worrying about my son. Relentless media hounding us for information that we don't have. This is what I do know Kam is a kind, considerate, caring young man, always has been concerned about other people's feelings.

"As we are trapped in our homes due to media people, we try to wrap our heads around what is happening and hope that Kam will come home to us safely so we can all get to the bottom of this story."

WATCH: Mayor of Gillamresponds to the increased RCMP presence in and around the community

'Everybody knows everybody here': Mayor of Gillam describes the scene in the community

5 years ago

Duration 0:41

Mayor of Gillam, Dwayne Forman, talks about the increased police presence in town after a burned SUV driven by 2 homicide suspects was found in the area.