RCMP vehicles patrol James Smith Cree Nation on Sept. 6, 2022, following a possible sighting of the second person of interest in the stabbings that occurred at the James Smith Cree Nation Indigenous community and the town of Weldon. PHOTO BY LARS HAGBERG /AFP via Getty Images
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The lone living suspect in Saskatchewan’s worst mass killing is now in police custody, after a multi-day manhunt gripped the province.
Myles Sanderson, 32, was located and taken into police custody on Highway 11, near Rosthern, at approximately 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. He is currently charged with three murders, an attempted murder and a break-and-enter, but RCMP previously indicated more charges would come as investigation continued into the 10 dead and 18 injured.
The body of Damien Sanderson, charged with one of the murders, was found dead on Monday on James Smith Cree Nation. His brother Myles was believed to have been injured.
After the arrest, ambulances and a police escort were seen racing south down Highway 11 and later on Idylwyld Drive in Saskatoon. Images from the highway shows a white truck matching the latest suspect vehicle description in the ditch, surrounded by RCMP vehicles and officers.
While still mourning, some of the victims’ family and loved ones felt a sense of comfort that Sanderson was in custody.
“It’s a huge relief,” said Darryl Burns, whose sister Gloria was among those killed.
Added Herbert Burns: “Nobody is going to get hurt anymore.”
Article content
The lone living suspect in Saskatchewan’s worst mass killing is now in police custody, after a multi-day manhunt gripped the province.
Myles Sanderson, 32, was located and taken into police custody on Highway 11, near Rosthern, at approximately 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. He is currently charged with three murders, an attempted murder and a break-and-enter, but RCMP previously indicated more charges would come as investigation continued into the 10 dead and 18 injured.
The body of Damien Sanderson, charged with one of the murders, was found dead on Monday on James Smith Cree Nation. His brother Myles was believed to have been injured.
After the arrest, ambulances and a police escort were seen racing south down Highway 11 and later on Idylwyld Drive in Saskatoon. Images from the highway shows a white truck matching the latest suspect vehicle description in the ditch, surrounded by RCMP vehicles and officers.
While still mourning, some of the victims’ family and loved ones felt a sense of comfort that Sanderson was in custody.
“It’s a huge relief,” said Darryl Burns, whose sister Gloria was among those killed.
Added Herbert Burns: “Nobody is going to get hurt anymore.”
RCMP on scene on Highway 11 after the arrest of Myles Sanderson, north of Saskatoon on Wednesday afternoon. PHOTO BY MICHELLE BERG /Saskatoon StarPhoenix
The previous emergency alerts for Saskatchewan were cancelled as “there is no longer a risk to public safety relating to this investigation.”
After evading capture since Sunday, police responded to a report of a stolen truck and a person with a knife just after 2 p.m. about 100 kilometres southwest of James Smith Cree Nation, where most of Sunday’s deadly stabbing rampage took place.
It is believed the police pursuit of the stolen vehicle, a 2008 white Chevrolet Avalanche, led to Sanderson’s arrest about 40 km west of Wakaw less one hour and 20 minutes after the tip was reported.
As residents in the Wakaw area were advised to shelter in place, the emergency alert update sent by RCMP to cell phones across Saskatchewan indicated the stolen vehicle pursuit may be connected to the search for Myles Sanderson.
The vehicle was last seen travelling on Wakaw’s Cemetery Road in an unknown direction of travel and with “unknown persons involved,” police said.
Premier Scott Moe and the FSIN were some of the first local leaders to express relief about Sanderson’s capture.
On Tuesday, dozens of vehicles poured into James Smith Cree Nation, surrounding a house where they believed Sanderson may have been hiding. A heavily armoured truck was seen rolling down a main road, near an acreage where ponies roamed. A police helicopter was seen overhead. Authorities set up roadblocks around the community.
Hours later, the local search ended, as an alert blared on phones across the province announcing that police no longer believed Sanderson was in the area and were apparently no closer to catching him.
Saskatchewan RCMP Commanding Officer Rhonda Blackmore said officers searched homes and the vast wilderness of the James Smith Cree Nation — which covers more than 15,000 hectares, according to its website.
Blackmore said police received “multiple reports” indicating Sanderson was on the reserve before issuing the provincewide alert.
Authorities previously suspected Sanderson and his brother Damien — who was later found deceased near one of the crime scenes on the First Nation — had made it as far south as Regina, where a black Nissan Rogue that police suggested could be tied to the crime was spotted late Sunday morning.
Regina Police Service Chief Evan Bray was “very confident” that Sanderson was in Regina then. But by the time an eyewitness would have seen two men driving a black Nissan Rogue on Arcola Avenue, Damien Sanderson — the brother of Myles and the other person police were originally looking for in connection to the killing — was dead at James Smith Cree Nation.
The previous emergency alerts for Saskatchewan were cancelled as “there is no longer a risk to public safety relating to this investigation.”
After evading capture since Sunday, police responded to a report of a stolen truck and a person with a knife just after 2 p.m. about 100 kilometres southwest of James Smith Cree Nation, where most of Sunday’s deadly stabbing rampage took place.
It is believed the police pursuit of the stolen vehicle, a 2008 white Chevrolet Avalanche, led to Sanderson’s arrest about 40 km west of Wakaw less one hour and 20 minutes after the tip was reported.
As residents in the Wakaw area were advised to shelter in place, the emergency alert update sent by RCMP to cell phones across Saskatchewan indicated the stolen vehicle pursuit may be connected to the search for Myles Sanderson.
The vehicle was last seen travelling on Wakaw’s Cemetery Road in an unknown direction of travel and with “unknown persons involved,” police said.
Premier Scott Moe and the FSIN were some of the first local leaders to express relief about Sanderson’s capture.
On Tuesday, dozens of vehicles poured into James Smith Cree Nation, surrounding a house where they believed Sanderson may have been hiding. A heavily armoured truck was seen rolling down a main road, near an acreage where ponies roamed. A police helicopter was seen overhead. Authorities set up roadblocks around the community.
Hours later, the local search ended, as an alert blared on phones across the province announcing that police no longer believed Sanderson was in the area and were apparently no closer to catching him.
Saskatchewan RCMP Commanding Officer Rhonda Blackmore said officers searched homes and the vast wilderness of the James Smith Cree Nation — which covers more than 15,000 hectares, according to its website.
Blackmore said police received “multiple reports” indicating Sanderson was on the reserve before issuing the provincewide alert.
Authorities previously suspected Sanderson and his brother Damien — who was later found deceased near one of the crime scenes on the First Nation — had made it as far south as Regina, where a black Nissan Rogue that police suggested could be tied to the crime was spotted late Sunday morning.
Regina Police Service Chief Evan Bray was “very confident” that Sanderson was in Regina then. But by the time an eyewitness would have seen two men driving a black Nissan Rogue on Arcola Avenue, Damien Sanderson — the brother of Myles and the other person police were originally looking for in connection to the killing — was dead at James Smith Cree Nation.
Myles Sanderson, named by RCMP as a suspect in a stabbing spree that killed 11 people, including his brother Damien who was also charged with murder, and injured 19, including himself, is shown in two undated photos. The suspect vehicle is a black Nissan Rogue with Sask. licence plate 119 MPI.
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