Exclusive: RCMP gives Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation update

Rhonda Blackmore, Assistant Commissioner of the Saskatchewan RCMP joins The Evan Bray Show to give an exclusive update after four people were found dead at a residence on Carry the Kettle First Nation on Feb. 4. The First Nation is about an hour east of Regina and RCMP are calling the deaths suspicious. Currently, a 29-year-old man is in custody after being suspected of pointing a gun at people in Zagime Anishinabek First Nation.

EVAN BRAY: What can you tell us about this? What has unfolded in the last 24 hours?

RHONDA BLACKMORE: An incredibly tragic incident that we are dealing with from Carry the Kettle. So as you mentioned, yesterday morning, at approximately 11:15 a.m. File Hills First Nation Police Service was called to a report of sudden deaths on Carry the Kettle Nation, and as the officers responded, they located four deceased persons inside the residence. We do believe that their deaths are suspicious in nature. Given that the RCMP Major Crime Unit assist File Hills First Nation Police in engaging with complex crimes such as homicides and we were engaged shortly thereafter and took over the responsibility for this investigation.

An arrest was made last night, of an individual by the name of Keagan Panipekeesick, who from my understanding was a suspect in an incident with a firearm on Zagime Anishinabek First Nation (formerly Sakimay First Nation). Is that related to these four deaths on Carry the Kettle?

BLACKMORE: Those are the pieces we’re still trying to put together. Given the close proximity between Carry the Kettle First Nation and Sakimay First Nation, they are not that far apart given the geography of this province. So, it is something that we’re certainly looking at, to determine if he was also involved in those suspicious deaths from Carry the Kettle.

A few years back, you and I were both heavily involved in working together in the tragedy that was the James Smith Cree Nation and I know in that incident there were numerous emergency alerts that were going out to the public, but that didn’t happen yesterday.

Does that lead us to the conclusion that this was targeted? That this was not a random thing and there was no danger to the public?

BLACKMORE: We do believe that the residence involved where the four individuals were located deceased, was targeted in this incident. So yes, we do believe there was that aspect, that the motivation was targeting that residence and that the risk to the public was not the same as if we had someone in a random attack.

At this point, though, you can’t say for sure that you’ve got the suspect under arrest?

BLACKMORE: We can’t say with 100 per cent certainty, but we are certainly investigating the possibility of the two incidents, the point firearm from Sakimay and the deceased individuals at Carry the Kettle, if those two incidents are related.

Can you confirm if those four people were murdered by being shot?

BLACKMORE: I can’t confirm that. But all four were deceased by the time Fil Hills First Nation police service arrived on the scene.

Can you confirm if drugs were a factor?

BLACKMORE: It is another aspect of the investigation that we are looking at. We look to find motivating factors right at the start of the investigation. As we look to determine who is responsible we look to motivating factors. The drug trade has a violent aspect to it, so it is something we are following up on.

Is there anything you want Saskatchewan people to know? I am not equating to James Smith but minds turn that way.

BLACKMORE: It is not lost on me the terror people feel when they hear a story like this unfolding. There is a level of fear there and we completely understand that. It is absolutely top of mind when we talk about public safety. We were in consultation all evening and right through the afternoon, so we need an emergency alert. We don’t make a decision and then stick to that decision, we are constantly assessing the new information. The situation evolves quickly as you look to determine who is a suspect, where are they at this time. I can assure if there was an imminent risk to public safety we would be altering the public.