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Canada school shooting: five confirmed dead as lockdown continues Canada school shooting: five confirmed dead as lockdown continues
(35 minutes later)
A school in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, remained in lockdown on Friday night after a gunman killed five people and wounded several in a daytime school shooting in La Loche, a community about 600km from Saskatoon. The number of dead in a school shooting in northern Canada was revised down to four from five, the Canadian police said late Friday, but gave no new details on either the victims or the one male in custody.
Speaking from Davos, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the fatalities, adding that two more had been critically injured in the shooting at La Loche Community School. The shooter is now in custody, but neither Trudeau nor the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) provided further details on the victims or shooter. In a media briefing, Chief Superintendent Maureen Levy of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said that chaos in the immediate wake of the shooting at La Loche community school made some of the early information unreliable.
“We all grieve with and stand with the community of La Loche and all of Saskatchewan on this tragic day,” Trudeau said. “This is every parent’s worst nightmare.” Levy also said that a number of people were injured in the daytime shooting on Friday in La Loche, Saskatchewan, a community about 600km from Saskatoon.
The school houses about 900 students in two buildings, in ages ranging from a pre-kindergarten to grade 12. “In incidents such as this there is a lot of information going back-and-forth very quickly,” Levy said.
She did not confirm the number of injured or the extent of their injuries or any further information about the casualties or the suspect, saying the police force wanted to “ensure the integrity of the investigation”.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking from Davos earlier, said: “We all grieve with and stand with the community of La Loche and all of Saskatchewan on this tragic day. This is every parent’s worst nightmare.”
Clearwater River Dene Nation chief Teddy Clark told the Saskatoon Star Phoenix that La Loche was “devastated” by the shooting.Clearwater River Dene Nation chief Teddy Clark told the Saskatoon Star Phoenix that La Loche was “devastated” by the shooting.
“Both Clearwater and La Loche, a lot of people are in shock. This is something that you only see on TV most of the time.”“Both Clearwater and La Loche, a lot of people are in shock. This is something that you only see on TV most of the time.”
The province’s RCMP division confirmed Friday night that they received a complaint at 1 pm of an active shooter in the community and at 1:47 pm took one male into custody and seized a firearm.The province’s RCMP division confirmed Friday night that they received a complaint at 1 pm of an active shooter in the community and at 1:47 pm took one male into custody and seized a firearm.
Grade 10 student Noel Desjarlais described the chaos at the La Loche community school in an interview with CBC News.Grade 10 student Noel Desjarlais described the chaos at the La Loche community school in an interview with CBC News.
“I ran outside the school,” he said. “There was lots of screaming, there was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out.”“I ran outside the school,” he said. “There was lots of screaming, there was about six, seven shots before I got outside. I believe there was more shots by the time I did get out.”
On its Facebook page, the school urged the public to stay away while the incident was handled by the Royal Canadian police.On its Facebook page, the school urged the public to stay away while the incident was handled by the Royal Canadian police.
“We will not be allowing anyone in or out until we have a clear idea of what is going on,” said a post on the page. “We will not be allowing anyone in or out until we have a clear idea of what is going on,” a post on the page said.
The RCMP said in a news release that the school remained in lockdown “as precaution”. Aside from the school, investigators were also at the 300 block of Dene Crescent, but it was not immediately clear why. The lockdown on the school that had been in place for hours was lifted late Friday and children at the school were moved to a safe location, Levy said.
Aside from the school, investigators were also at the 300 block of Dene Crescent, but it was not immediately clear why.
The school houses about 900 students in two buildings, an elementary school and the Dene high school.
While details of the incident remained scarce, Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall said in a statement that “words cannot express my shock and sorrow at the horrific events today”.While details of the incident remained scarce, Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall said in a statement that “words cannot express my shock and sorrow at the horrific events today”.
Federal New Democrat MP Georgina Jolibois, a former mayor of the community, also said in a statement she was “shocked and saddened by the shooting”.Federal New Democrat MP Georgina Jolibois, a former mayor of the community, also said in a statement she was “shocked and saddened by the shooting”.
“The community of La Loche is close-knit. We have faced adversity in the past and we will persevere,” she said.“The community of La Loche is close-knit. We have faced adversity in the past and we will persevere,” she said.
By Friday evening, hundreds of messages of condolences from all over the world filled the La Loche Community School’s Facebook page in the wake of the tragic news, sending a message of solidarity to the school and community of about 2,600 people.By Friday evening, hundreds of messages of condolences from all over the world filled the La Loche Community School’s Facebook page in the wake of the tragic news, sending a message of solidarity to the school and community of about 2,600 people.
A medical transport helicopter was dispatched from Saskatoon to the community to deal with the emergency, according to the Stars ambulance Twitter account.A medical transport helicopter was dispatched from Saskatoon to the community to deal with the emergency, according to the Stars ambulance Twitter account.
While the United States faces a disproportionate amount of mass gun violence compared to Canada, America’s northern neighbour has not escaped the tragedy of school shootings.While the United States faces a disproportionate amount of mass gun violence compared to Canada, America’s northern neighbour has not escaped the tragedy of school shootings.
In 1989, 14 women were killed by shooter Marc Lépine at the École Polytechnique in Montreal before he killed himself. The massacre shocked the nation and galvanized the Canadian public against gun violence and is marked annually with a national day of remembrance.In 1989, 14 women were killed by shooter Marc Lépine at the École Polytechnique in Montreal before he killed himself. The massacre shocked the nation and galvanized the Canadian public against gun violence and is marked annually with a national day of remembrance.
In 1999, just eight days after Colorado’s Columbine high school massacre, 14-year-old gunman Todd Cameron Smith killed 17-year-old Jason Lang at W.R. Myers high school in Alberta.In 1999, just eight days after Colorado’s Columbine high school massacre, 14-year-old gunman Todd Cameron Smith killed 17-year-old Jason Lang at W.R. Myers high school in Alberta.
And in 2006, 18-year-old student Anastasia De Sousa was killed and 19 people injured when 25-year-old Kimveer Gill opened fire at Montreal’s Dawson College. Gill killed himself after being shot by police.And in 2006, 18-year-old student Anastasia De Sousa was killed and 19 people injured when 25-year-old Kimveer Gill opened fire at Montreal’s Dawson College. Gill killed himself after being shot by police.