Canadian cops have been searching for one of two stabbing suspects since MAY when he stopped meeting with parole officer: Man 30, and accomplice, 31, are on the run after stabbing 10 to death and injuring 15
- Myles Sanderson, 30, who police believe acted with his brother Damien, 31, has been a fugitive since he stopped seeing his parole officer in May
- The suspect had been parole after receiving a five year sentence for assault, robbery and other crimes
- A total of 10 people were killed and 15 others were wounded in the stabbings in Indigenous community
- Lana Head, the mother of two daughters, and her partner were among the 10 victims killed in attack Sunday
- The suspects are 31-year-old Damien Sanderson and his brother Myles
- Damien and Myles are believed to have stabbed 25 people in the indigenous reserve of James Smith Cree Nation and in the nearby village of Weldon, northeast of the city of Saskatoon, southern Canada
- Some of victims appear to have been targeted but others appear to have been attacked at random
- The two armed suspects are still on the run and have not been found, police confirmed
One of the two men wanted for the stabbing death of 10 people on Sunday on an indigenous reservation in Southern Canada has been a wanted by police since May when he stopped going to court mandated visits with his parole officer.
Myles Sanderson, 30, who police believe acted with his brother Damien, 31, in the stabbing rampage that also wounded 15 people in the James Cree Nation reserve, disappeared in May while out on parole on a five year sentence for assault, robbery, mischief and making threats, according to Regina police Chief Evan Bray said Monday morning.
Police believe that someone is harboring the brothers to prevent them from being captured.
‘We know. We are confident that someone out there knows the whereabouts of these two and has information that would be valuable to the police,’ Bray said. ‘I urge you to get in touch with your local police service.’
‘Unfortunately, the two males are still at large. This despite ongoing relentless efforts throughout the night both by the [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] and the Regina Police Service to locate these two individuals,’ Bray said on a video posted on Twitter. ‘They have not yet been located and so efforts continue. We have a fresh set of investigators and shifts coming in today that will take over this investigation. We will not stop this investigation until we have those two safely in custody.’
Lana Head, the mother of two daughters, and her partner were among those killed in the indigenous reserve of James Smith Cree Nation, southern Canada, on Sunday as police launched a manhunt for two ‘armed and dangerous’ men suspected of carrying out the massacre.
Suspects Damien Sanderson (left) and Myles Sanderson (right) are being sought in connection with stabbings in Saskatchewan on Sunday according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
One of the 10 victims who was stabbed to death in the attack was named as Lana Head (pictured), a mother of two daughters
Both men are currently on the run after allegedly stabbing 25 people in one of the deadliest mass killings in Canada’s history.
They are believed to have stabbed the victims across 13 sites in the indigenous reserve and in the nearby village of Weldon, northeast of the city of Saskatoon.
A police alert and search has expanded from Saskatchewan to include neighboring Manitoba and Alberta provinces – a vast region half the size of Europe.
The chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations suggested the stabbings could be drug-related as it emerged that Myles was listed as ‘unlawfully at large’ by police in May.
The devastated community named Lana as one of the victims of the attack and said she died alongside her partner, who has not been identified. Another victim, Wes Petterson, a 77-year-old widower, was the second to be named by locals.
Following the frenzied stabbing, the armed suspects reportedly fled the scene in a black Nissan Rogue SUV which has since been spotted in Regina, a city about 208 miles south of the communities where the stabbings occurred, police said.
Bray urged Regina residents to shelter in their homes and said on Sunday night they still believe Damien and Myles are in the city.
Rhonda Blackmore, the Assistant Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said some of the victims appear to have been targeted by the suspects but others appear to have been attacked at random.
Investigators – including police, forensics, and coroners – gather in front of the scene of a stabbing in Weldon, Saskatchewan
The armed suspects reportedly fled the scene in a black Nissan Rogue SUV (pictured) which has since been spotted in Regina, a city about 208 miles south of the communities where the stabbings occurred, police said
The first stabbings were reported at 5.40am (11.40 GMT) in James Smith Cree Nation, a sparsely populated indigenous community with a population of about 3,400 people largely engaged in farming, hunting and fishing. Weldon is a village of some 200 people.
Within three hours of the stabbings, which occurred across 13 crime scenes, police issued a province-wide dangerous persons alert. By Sunday afternoon, similar alerts were also issued in Saskatchewan’s neighboring provinces Alberta and Manitoba.
The elected leaders of the three communities that make up the James Smith Cree Nation, including the Chakastaypasin Band and the Peter Chapman Band, declared a local state of emergency and opened up two emergency operations centers.
Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, a group which represents 74 First Nations in the state of Saskatchewan, suggested the stabbings were drug-related.
‘This is the destruction we face when harmful illegal drugs invade our communities, and we demand all authorities to take direction from the Chiefs and Councils and their membership to create safer and healthier communities for our people,’ Cameron said.
The former partner of Lana Head, who was killed in the attack, also suggested the attack was linked to drugs and alcohol.
Michael Brett Burns, who has two daughters with Ms. Head, told the Aboriginal People’s Television Network: ‘It’s sick how jail time, drugs and alcohol can destroy many lives. I’m hurt for all this loss.’
In May, Myles Sanderson was listed as ‘unlawfully at large’ by Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers, a program that encourages the public to cooperate with police. There were no further details about why he was wanted.
Burns earlier paid tribute to his ex-partner, writing on Facebook: ‘You will be missed dearly Lana. Thank you for beautiful daughters and granddaughters.’
A friend also paid tribute to Ms. Head, writing on Facebook: ‘I love you and say prayers for your children, grandchildren, your family. I am going to miss your sweet hello’s and messages. I will forever cherish your sweet demeanor and caring ways.’
Another victim, Wes Petterson, 77, was identified by locals. Ruby Works said the widower was like an uncle to her.
‘I collapsed and hit the ground. I’ve known him since I was just a little girl,? she said, describing the moment she heard the news. She said he loved his cats, was proud of his homemade Saskatoon berry jam and frequently helped out his neighbors.
‘He didn’t do anything. He didn’t deserve this. He was a good, kind hearted man,? said Works.
Weldon resident Robert Rush also described the victim as a gentle, widowed man in his 70s. ‘He wouldn’t hurt a fly,’ he said.
Rush said Petterson’s adult grandson was in the basement at the time of the stabbing and phoned police.
Chakastaypasin Chief Calvin Sanderson – who is not related to the suspects – said everyone’s been affected by the tragic events.
‘They were our relatives, friends,’ Sanderson said of the victims. ‘It’s pretty horrific.’
Indigenous people account for less than 5 per cent of Canada’s population of about 38 million and suffer from higher levels of poverty, unemployment and a lower life expectancy than other Canadians.
Saskatchewan RCMP has confirmed that there are 10 dead while 15 are injured following the stabbings that occurred at James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon
Coroners, police officers, and forensic teams gathered at the scenes of the stabbings on Sunday as they continued to piece together evidence and hunt down the two men.
Speaking at a news conference in Regina, Blackmore said: ‘Let me be clear, we are still looking for the two suspects. We are asking residents across Saskatchewan and our neighboring provinces to be vigilant.’
Blackmore added: ‘Our thoughts are with the many victims deceased and injured their family, friends and communities. It is horrific what has occurred in our province today.
‘If Damian and Myles are listening or receive this information, I would ask that they turn themselves in to police immediately.’
Following the fatal stabbing spree, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted: ‘The attacks in Saskatchewan today are horrific and heartbreaking. I’m thinking of those who have lost a loved one and of those who were injured.’
‘We are closely monitoring the situation, and urge everyone to follow updates from local authorities,’ he continued. ‘Thank you to all the brave first responders for their efforts on the ground.’
There are 13 crime scenes, where either deceased or injured people were found, police confirmed.
Damien is described as five feet seven inches tall and 155 pounds, and Myles is described as as six-foot-one and 200 pounds. Both have black hair and brown eyes and may be driving a black Nissan Rogue.
A police forensics team investigates a crime scene following the horrific killing spree
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted : ‘The attacks in Saskatchewan today are horrific and heartbreaking. I’m thinking of those who have lost a loved one and of those who were injured’
The PM continued that they are closely monitoring the situation, and urge everyone to follow updates from local authorities
A police officer walks through the scene of a stabbing in Weldon, Saskatchewan
The search for suspects was carried out as sports fans descended in Regina for a sold out annual Labor Day game between the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
But police urged those in attendance to stay vigilant as they deployed additional forces to put locals’ minds at ease following the brutal knifing spree.
The RCMP said in a message on Twitter: ‘If in the Regina area, take precautions & consider sheltering in place. Do not leave a secure location. DO NOT APPROACH suspicious persons. Do not pick up hitch hikers.
‘Report suspicious persons, emergencies or info to 9-1-1. Do not disclose police locations.’
The Regina Police Service said in a news release that with the help of Mounties, it was working on several fronts to locate and arrest the suspects and had ‘deployed additional resources for public safety throughout the city, including the football game at Mosaic Stadium.’
The alert first issued by Melfort, Saskatchewan RCMP about 7am was extended hours later to cover Manitoba and Alberta, as the two suspects remained at large.
A police forensics team investigates a crime scene after multiple people were killed and injured in a stabbing spree
Rhonda Blackmore, the Assistant Commissioner of the RCMP Saskatchewan, said some of the victims appear to have been targeted by the suspects but others appear to have been attacked at random. She couldn’t provide a motive
Damien is described as five feet seven inches tall and 155 pounds, and Myles is described as as six-foot-one and 200 pounds. Both have black hair and brown eyes and may be driving a black Nissan Rogue
Canadian police said Sunday 10 people are dead from stabbings in 13 locations in two communities in the province of Saskatchewan and police are looking for two suspects
The Saskatchewan Health Authority said multiple patients were being treated at several sites.
‘A call for additional staff was issued to respond to the influx of casualties,’ authority spokeswoman Anne Linemann said in an email.
Mark Oddan, a spokesman with STARS Air Ambulance, said two helicopters were dispatched from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and another from Regina.
He said two carried patients to the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, while the third carried a patient to Royal University from a hospital in Melfort, a short distance southeast of the village of Weldon.
Oddan said due to privacy laws, he could not disclose information about their ages, genders or conditions.
Diane Shier, a resident of Weldon resident Diane Shier told the VC Star that her neighbor, a man who lived with his grandson, was killed. She did not want to identify the victim out of respect for his family.
‘I am very upset because I lost a good neighbor,’ she said, explaining that she was in her garden on Sunday when she noticed emergency crews nearby.
A police forensics team investigates a crime scene after multiple people were killed and injured in a stabbing spree in Weldon, Saskatchewan
Investigators gather in front of a table near the scene of stabbing in Weldon, Saskatchewan
The attack is among the deadliest mass killings in Canadian history.
The deadliest gun rampage in Canadian history happened in 2020 when a man disguised as a police officer shot people in their homes and set fires across the province of Nova Scotia, killing 22 people.
A man used a van to kill 10 pedestrians in Toronto in 2019. But mass killings are less common in Canada than in the United States.
Deadly mass stabbings are more rare than mass shootings but have happened around the world.
In 2014, 29 people were slashed and stabbed to death at a train station in China’s southwestern city of Kunming.
In 2016, a mass stabbing at a facility for the mentally disabled in Sagamihara, Japan, left 19 people dead. A year later, three men killed eight people in a vehicle and stabbing attack at London Bridge.
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