YORKTON - Flags went to half mast at City Hall in Yorkton Tuesday, following the mass casualty incident at James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon over the weekend.
“We chose to do that . . . We wanted to recognize what has happened, as an act of respect toward all the people affected,” offered Yorkton Mayor Mitch Hippsley.
Hippsley said the deaths and injuries “are incomprehensible.
“You always expect it to happen in a big city somewhere else. You just want to believe it wouldn’t happen here.”
While certainly encouraging vigilance Hippsley added he feels Yorkton remains a safe city.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) confirmed in a release Tuesday it has admitted 17 individuals presenting with injuries related to Sunday’s events to hospitals within the province.
As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, there were 10 patients who remain in-hospital. Three patients are in critical condition, seven are in stable condition and, since Sunday, seven individuals have been discharged. Please note that SHA numbers may differ slightly from other agencies as we only track and report on admissions to hospitals.
The Saskatchewan RCMP also released Tuesday they are working in collaboration with municipal police agencies within the province and additional RCMP police resources from neighbouring provinces to assist with the investigation and to ensure the continued safety of the public.
As it stands, 32-year-old Myles Sanderson is involved in an active investigation for multiple homicides which occurred Sept. 4, 2022, at the James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon.
Sanderson is described as being approximately 6’1” weighing approximately 240 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Myles Sanderson is wanted on a Canada-wide Warrant for his arrest and he is facing the following charges:
* three counts of first-degree murder, contrary to Sec. 235(1) of the Criminal Code;
* one count of attempted murder, contrary to Sec. 239(1)(b) of the Criminal Code and;
* one count of break-and-enter, contrary to Sec. 348(1)(b) of the Criminal Code. Police still consider Myles to be armed and dangerous. If he is seen, police advise to not approach him and immediately call 911. The Saskatchewan RCMP would like to thank the public for their diligence in providing pertinent information about potential sightings of Myles Sanderson. Police continue to encourage the public to report any information relating to this investigation to their local RCMP detachment or by calling 911. Investigators have obtained an updated photo of Myles Sanderson. Myles may not be wearing glasses and his current appearance may not exactly resemble the photo. This is the highest quality photo available at this time.
