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Canada school shooting: four confirmed dead as lockdown is lifted Canada school shooting: four confirmed dead as lockdown is lifted
(about 1 hour later)
The number of dead in a school shooting in northern Canada was revised down to four from five, the Canadian police said late on Friday, but gave no new details of either the victims or the one male in custody. Four people have been killed and others injured in a school shooting in northern Canada that prime minister Justin Trudeau described as “every parent’s worst nightmare”.
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. The school in La Loche, Saskatchewan, was sealed off and one male was later taken into custody in what is one of the country’s worst such incidents.
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. Acting mayor Kevin Janvier told the Associated Press his 23-year-old daughter, a teacher, was among those killed by the shooter.
“He shot two of his brothers at his home and made his way to the school,” Janvier was quoted as saying. “I’m just so sad.”
Late on Friday, police revised down the number of dead from five. 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 made some of the early information unreliable.
“In incidents such as this there is a lot of information going back-and-forth very quickly,” Levy said.“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”.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”.
Acting mayor Kevin Janvier told the Associated Press that his 23-year-old daughter, a teacher, was among those killed by the shooter.
“He shot two of his brothers at his home and made his way to the school,” Janvier is quoted as saying. “I’m just so sad.”
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.”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 on Friday night that they received a complaint at 1pm of an active shooter in the community and at 1:47pm took one male into custody and seized a firearm. The province’s RCMP division confirmed on Friday night that they received a report at 1pm of an active shooter in the community and at 1.47pm 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 police.
“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.“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 lockdown on the school that had been in place for hours was lifted late on Friday and children at the school were moved to a safe location, Levy said.The lockdown on the school that had been in place for hours was lifted late on 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.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 “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 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, 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 sent from Saskatoon to the community to deal with the emergency, according to the Stars ambulance Twitter account.
The remote town in the northwestern corner of the prairie province is bordered by the Clearwater River Dene Nation. The community’s struggles with high rates of suicide and self-harm among its predominantly aboriginal population has been documented in recent years by the local health authority and media. The remote town in the north-western corner of the prairie province is bordered by the Clearwater River Dene Nation. The community’s struggles with high rates of suicide and self-harm among its predominantly aboriginal population has been documented in recent years by the local health authority and media.
The federal statistics agency on Thursday also released data indicating Saskatchewan has the highest rates of police-reported family violence among the provinces, almost double the national rate.The federal statistics agency on Thursday also released data indicating Saskatchewan has the highest rates of police-reported family violence among the provinces, almost double the national rate.
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 with 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.