A teenage boy is facing multiple charges after a tragic shooting left four people dead in La Loche, Sask. on Friday. Premier Brad Wall and RCMP provided an update Saturday on the investigation.
Just after 1 p.m. CT on Friday, La Loche RCMP received several calls from teachers and students in Dene High School. The calls advised police that there was an individual discharging a firearm at people and there were injured individuals inside the school. Around 150 students and staff were in the school at the time of the shooting.
RCMP said they immediately deployed members to the school who, upon arrival, found the front door had damage consistent with a firearm.
READ MORE: Eye-witness accounts of the La Loche school shooting
Once inside the school, one of the responding RCMP members located a male with a firearm who ran further into the building. RCMP continued searching the school until the armed male was found and taken into custody at gunpoint using verbal commands at around 1:15 p.m. CT. Officers safely secured the loaded firearm.
While members were responding to the school, investigators received additional information indicating there was a deceased person in a residence in the 300-block of Dene Crescent. RCMP responded and found Dayne Fontaine, 17, and Drayden Fontaine, 13, deceased in the residence. Both boys are from La Loche.
FULL COVERAGE: La Loche school shooting
While the search for the suspect was taking place, RCMP initiated their School Action for Emergencies (SAFE) plan and established a safe area for the student’s families to gather. Nine people in the school were found to be suffering with what are believed to be gunshot wounds. Two of the wounded succumbed to their injuries.
Marie Jaqueline Janvier, 21, was declared dead at the school. She was from La Loche and was a teacher’s aide at the school.
Adam Jacob Wood, 35, was taken to La Loche Health Centre where he was pronounced dead. He was a teacher at the school and was originally from Uxbridge, Ont.
READ MORE: What we know about the victims of the La Loche school shooting
The 17-year-old suspect, who cannot be named as per provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is from La Loche and has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of attempted murder and one count of unauthorized possession of a firearm. He is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday, Jan. 25 in Meadow Lake, Sask.
Seven individuals were taken to the La Loche Health Centre and Hospital for initial treatment. Four patients were airlifted to Royal University Hospital (RUH) in Saskatoon. The remaining three injured individuals will be taken to RUH when weather conditions permit.
Both scenes remain under police control as specialized investigators gather evidence.
WATCH: RCMP official gives new details in La Loche school shooting
RCMP Superintendent Grant St. Germaine hosted the conference at the court house in La Loche describing how the situation unfolded on Friday.
“The days and weeks ahead will be difficult as we all come to terms with the impact of what happened in our community. This is a very sad and difficult time and no words will take away the pain and sorrow,” said a statement from La Loche RCMP.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our community members and we must get through this together. We will continue to provide the necessary support to the community and our employees as we mourn the victims.”
Brad Wall also addressed the media on Saturday afternoon.
“The RCMP responded quickly and effectively to apprehend the shooter and ensure the community was safe. The investigation is continuing, obviously, and we need to respect the fact that the investigation is continuing,” Wall said.
WATCH: Premier Brad Wall on La Loche shootings
“Saskatchewan Health and many health professionals in the region responded to this immediate crisis and they would have been seeing things and dealing with things that they simply would have not seen before and not dealt with before. And their response was remarkable and the Province of Saskatchewan thanks them.”
The Saskatchewan Premier is expected to arrive in La Loche around noon on Sunday and meet with community leaders in the early afternoon.
“To have the lives and the futures of these students and staff cut short by this unspeakably horrible event is really, simply unimaginable. It’s unimaginable anywhere. It’s, obviously for us in Saskatchewan, it’s very much hard to believe and surreal right here in our province,” said Wall.
The province says flags have been lowered at the Saskatchewan legislative building and all other government buildings.
Ryan Kessler contributed to this story
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