Shootings on Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation leave 2 men dead

RCMPsaythe suspect in a fatal shooting on a Saskatchewan First Nation was located after a firearm was discharged, and that the man was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

At around 5 p.m. CST on the AhtahkakoopCree Nation, as Mounties were on scene investigatinga shooting from earlier inthe day, the firearm was discharged, police said.

A59-year-old man was transported to Shellbrook Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

RCMP officers said they did not fire their weapons.

Police said they believe the 59-year-oldman is the suspect in the shooting death of a 56-year-old man earlier in the day, causing a lockdown in the community. Police are not releasing the identity of the two dead men.

The RCMP requested the Saskatoon Police Service to conduct an independent, external investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discharge of the firearm. The Saskatoon police will report the results to the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General.

RCMPsaid becausethis incident is being investigated by an external agency, they will beunable to provide further details at this time and will not be conducting any media interviews.

RCMP respond to calls about shots fired

Just after 11 a.m. CST, RCMP received several calls from people reporting a man discharging a firearm near the health centre on the AhtahkakoopCree Nation.

Police said a man wearing camouflage clothing was spotted near the area of the shooting and drove away on an ATV.

The area where the shooting took place was blocked off by police for several hours and residents of the community were urged to stay inside until it was safe to come out.

Shortly after the shooting, CBC Newsreached out to one local who said he was surprised at the violence.

"People generally get the gist of what went on, and I guess you could say [we're] in shock in the community," said Ahtahkakoop resident Gerry Greyeyes.

RCMPreleased few details about the shooting, butGreyeyes said news and speculation travel quickly in the small community.

"Everybody knows everybody else and rumours run rampant, so you don't know [if] what you're hearing is second-, third-, fourth-hand information, no matter how reliable that is," he said.

TheAhtahkakoopFirst Nation islocated about 165 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.