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Saskatchewan Mass Killings Were the Work of One Brother, Police Say Saskatchewan Mass Killings Were the Work of One Brother, Police Say
(about 3 hours later)
OTTAWA — The police in Saskatchewan said on Thursday that a stabbing rampage last month in western Canada had been carried out by one man, Myles Sanderson, who killed not just several people on an Indigenous reserve and in a nearby village but also his own brother, Damien Sanderson.OTTAWA — The police in Saskatchewan said on Thursday that a stabbing rampage last month in western Canada had been carried out by one man, Myles Sanderson, who killed not just several people on an Indigenous reserve and in a nearby village but also his own brother, Damien Sanderson.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police raised the death toll to 11 from 10, with Damien now counted among the victims.The Royal Canadian Mounted Police raised the death toll to 11 from 10, with Damien now counted among the victims.
“Our evidence suggests that Damien did not commit any of the homicides,” Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, the commanding officer of the mounted police in Saskatchewan, said at a news conference.“Our evidence suggests that Damien did not commit any of the homicides,” Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, the commanding officer of the mounted police in Saskatchewan, said at a news conference.
While Myles Sanderson, 32, acted alone in the stabbings, Commissioner Blackmore said, Damien, 31, was initially involved in planning the killings. She provided no further details about the younger brother’s role.While Myles Sanderson, 32, acted alone in the stabbings, Commissioner Blackmore said, Damien, 31, was initially involved in planning the killings. She provided no further details about the younger brother’s role.
The commissioner said that investigators had still not determined whether some, or all, of the victims had been targeted, and she added that Myles’s motive might never be known.The commissioner said that investigators had still not determined whether some, or all, of the victims had been targeted, and she added that Myles’s motive might never be known.
The police had charged both brothers with first-degree attempted murder and breaking and entering in the attack that unfolded on Sept. 4 on the reserve and in the village of Weldon. In total, 29 people were attacked. Eighteen of them were injured, and some remain hospitalized.The police had charged both brothers with first-degree attempted murder and breaking and entering in the attack that unfolded on Sept. 4 on the reserve and in the village of Weldon. In total, 29 people were attacked. Eighteen of them were injured, and some remain hospitalized.
The reassessment by the police fits the belief of many members of the James Smith Cree Nation, where most of the victims lived and died. (One man was killed in Weldon.) Many community members say they believe that Damien was killed while attempting to stop his brother’s rampage.The reassessment by the police fits the belief of many members of the James Smith Cree Nation, where most of the victims lived and died. (One man was killed in Weldon.) Many community members say they believe that Damien was killed while attempting to stop his brother’s rampage.
Damien’s body was found in a grassy area near a house being investigated as part of the attacks on the James Smith reserve. Commissioner Blackmore declined to say if he had been slain before the other killings started.Damien’s body was found in a grassy area near a house being investigated as part of the attacks on the James Smith reserve. Commissioner Blackmore declined to say if he had been slain before the other killings started.
The police have yet to construct a full timeline of the killings, and the commanding officer said that such information was unlikely to be released until a coroner’s inquest next year.The police have yet to construct a full timeline of the killings, and the commanding officer said that such information was unlikely to be released until a coroner’s inquest next year.
But investigators used interviews with 250 witnesses, along with forensic evidence and DNA analysis, to determine that Myles had killed his brother, the commissioner said.But investigators used interviews with 250 witnesses, along with forensic evidence and DNA analysis, to determine that Myles had killed his brother, the commissioner said.
Myles was arrested after a multiday manhunt and a highway chase involving an armada of police vehicles. The authorities said that he had gone into “medical distress” shortly afterward and had been taken to a hospital in nearby Saskatoon, where he was pronounced dead. Commissioner Blackmore said that his death was still under investigation by the municipal police in Saskatoon.Myles was arrested after a multiday manhunt and a highway chase involving an armada of police vehicles. The authorities said that he had gone into “medical distress” shortly afterward and had been taken to a hospital in nearby Saskatoon, where he was pronounced dead. Commissioner Blackmore said that his death was still under investigation by the municipal police in Saskatoon.
The killing spree shook the country and turned a spotlight on the province of Saskatchewan, population 1.2 million, and the James Smith Cree Nation, which has over 3,400 members, with nearly 2,000 living on its reserve.The killing spree shook the country and turned a spotlight on the province of Saskatchewan, population 1.2 million, and the James Smith Cree Nation, which has over 3,400 members, with nearly 2,000 living on its reserve.
The commissioner said at the news conference that during the two days leading up to the mass killing, the two brothers had been selling illegal drugs in the First Nation reserve and had been involved in three violent assaults.The commissioner said at the news conference that during the two days leading up to the mass killing, the two brothers had been selling illegal drugs in the First Nation reserve and had been involved in three violent assaults.
At 4 a.m. the day before the killings, Commissioner Blackmore said, the police dispatched two officers from the nearby town of Melfort after a resident of the James Smith reserve reported that Damien Sanderson had stolen a vehicle. Officers were hampered in their three-hour search partly because the most recent photo available of Damien had been taken when he was 8 years old, she said.At 4 a.m. the day before the killings, Commissioner Blackmore said, the police dispatched two officers from the nearby town of Melfort after a resident of the James Smith reserve reported that Damien Sanderson had stolen a vehicle. Officers were hampered in their three-hour search partly because the most recent photo available of Damien had been taken when he was 8 years old, she said.
Two officers eventually found the vehicle in front of a house and questioned three men inside. Unknown to them, the group included Damien, who gave the police a different name. Asked if Myles had also part of that group, Commissioner Blackmore did not directly reply. She also declined to give any information about what investigators believe happened between that time and the start of the killing spree. Two officers eventually found the vehicle in front of a house and questioned three men inside. Unknown to them, the group included Damien, who gave the police a different name. Asked if Myles had also been part of that group, Commissioner Blackmore did not directly reply. She also declined to give any information about what investigators believe happened between that time and the start of the killing spree.