All four suspects in a shooting that wounded a veteran RCMP officer Wednesday have been caught after an extensive manhunt in rural Manitoba.
RCMP, including the SWAT team, swarmed a house in Neepawa Thursday afternoon where a man was holed up after allegedly fleeing the scene of the shooting in Onanole, Man. in a stolen truck.
The man was arrested at about 3:15 p.m. according to media reports. Police have since confirmed the arrest.
Neighbours told Global News they didn’t know the people who lived in the house and that the whole situation was very scary.
“I feel scared because of course I have a little one,” Dante Soltes said.
Soltes said his wife was first to notice the RCMP. “She said ‘honey the police are around us and want us to evacuate the house because there’s an armed person right next door to us’.”
Soltes said his family left their home and went to a friends.
The whole ordeal began the night before, when police were called to a home just outside Onanole for a break-and-enter call at about 9:30 p.m.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner Scott Kolody said as officers got out of their vehicle, gunfire erupted.
“This was a response to a break-and-enter call and as soon as our officers exited the vehicle, they were shot at.”
An RCMP corporal was shot, said police. Two family members told Global News Graeme Kingdon, 42, was the officer who was injured.
Superintendent Scott McMurchy said officers did not shoot back, as the officer’s partner was concerned about getting him immediate medical attention.
WATCH: RCMP says officers did not return fire following Onanole shooting
After the shooting, the suspects fled and RCMP set up roadblocks and checkstops while they conducted the search.
Three suspects were nabbed Thursday morning, but Kolody told media that a fourth suspect was being sought, driving a stolen black 2005 GMC Sierra.
That search led police to a home in Neepawa.
Hazel M. Kellington elementary school was evacuated by RCMP as a precaution, said Beautiful Plains School Division superintendent Jason Young. About 15 staff members were sent home. There were no children, as school had not yet started.
STARS Air Ambulance took Kingdon to the Health Sciences Centre, said police.
Kolody briefly joined the family at HSC Thursday morning.
“Earlier this morning I attended the hospital to join the officer’s family and offer the support of the RCMP and as you can imagine, they are deeply shaken by this incident.”
Kingdon, who he described as a corporal and a committed, passionate professional, was conscious Thursday morning but still undergoing treatment.
Prior to rounding up all the suspects, Mounties asked residents in the Onanole area “to check all doors & windows to ensure they are closed & locked.” “Situation is ongoing,” the RCMP tweeted. “All possible #rcmpmb resources are being utilized.”
People were being asked to avoid the community and surrounding area and should expect a heavy police presence in the area.
WATCH: RCMP asking for public’s help in finding fourth Onanole suspect
“Please be vigilant, #rcmpmb asks residents in and around Onanole to report anything suspicious by calling 911 immediately.”
Area MP Robert Sopuck posted a tweet asking his constituents to be vigilant and “not to share any police locations on social media.”
Winnipeg police offered their condolences.
RCMP said the last time an officer was shot on duty was on the May long weekend of 2015. It happened in Kemnay, Man., which is just west of Brandon.
– With files from Phil Heidenreich, Amber McGukin, Kathy Kennedy, Abigail Turner and Kahla Shea
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