Nova Scotia RCMP announced Wednesday at 12:01 p.m. that New Brunswick shooting suspect Janson Bryan Baker has been arrested in Amherst, N.S., without incident and is in custody.
The arrest came after an emergency alert was issued in Nova Scotia on Wednesday after the suspect’s vehicle was found in Amherst.
The night prior, an emergency alert was also issued in the Greater Moncton area of New Brunswick as officers with the RCMP searched for a suspect they said was reportedly carrying firearms.
According to authorities, Baker was wanted in connection with a shooting incident that occurred near Riverview High School at around 5:15 p.m. AT on Tuesday.
On Wednesday at 9:37 a.m., police said the vehicle driven by 24-year-old Baker was located in Amherst and appeared to have been abandoned.
“We continue to actively investigate leads in NB to locate him,” New Brunswick RCMP said.
Nova Scotia RCMP said in a tweet at 10:41 a.m. Wednesday that the force was “requesting an (emergency) alert be issued in relation to the search for Jans(o)n Bryan Baker,” which was later issued at 11:42 a.m.
“At 10:44, we received a phone call to advise that (the RCMP) may require a public alert,” Nova Scotia Justice Minister Mark Furey said in an interview.
It was not until 11:35 a.m. that the Emergency Management Office actually received an approved statement and text, “which can simply be entered into the system and hit send.”
According to Furey, the process of issuing an alert is only a matter of minutes.
He said it is the responsibility of the police agency to provide the approved message and the EMO would enter the text in its system and hit the send button.
“It’s a very quick process once we receive that message,” Furey said.
Over the past number of months, Furey said the province formed a public alert committee with all of the stakeholders, government and Department of Justice, the EMO and Nova Scotia’s law enforcement agencies to review the public alert process.
“There is a process, and it’s critically important that within that process that the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction is providing the most accurate information to be disseminated,” he said.
As a result of the shooting incident that occurred near Riverview High School, officers said one man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Const. Hans Ouellette, a media relations officer for the N.B. RCMP, tells Global News police responded to a report of a man who had been shot near Riverview High School Tuesday evening.
“Police believe the man was approached by an individual he did not know, who was driving, or in, a black Hyundai Elantra, who demanded his bag.”
“The individual in the car discharged a firearm towards the man,” Ouellette said. “The type of firearm is not being released at this time.”
However, Ouellette confirmed, “it was not a BB gun or an airsoft gun.”
The investigation led police to identify Baker, who fled the scene, Ouellette said.
After confirming those details, an emergency alert was issued for Greater Moncton and southeastern New Brunswick at 11:40 p.m. Tuesday.
The school district where the shooting occurred announced on social media early Wednesday that it had closed its facilities, including Riverview High School.
“All Anglophone East District operations will be closed Wednesday January 6th,” says the tweet, sent out to 40 schools in the Moncton area.
The victim is expected to make “a full recovery,” said Ouellette.
Riverview High School also released a statement on Wednesday stating that the victim who was injured was a teacher.
“Although only one teacher was injured, other teachers were there as it happened or helped respond while waiting for emergency services,” the school said.
“The injured teacher and their family want you to know they appreciate the overwhelming support from the community. As much as they are grateful for the care and concern, they are also hopeful that people can respect their privacy, particularly on social media which can sometimes contribute to misinformation.”
According to the school, the teacher wants to let the community know that he is doing well and that his surgery last night was a success. He’s currently recovering in the hospital.
All Anglophone East District schools will be open Thursday, however, Riverview High School said it will be implementing virtual learning from home for all students on Jan. 7.
“This will allow staff to plan for the support of students when they return to Riverview High School. Although students will be at home learning, we will be offering in-person and telephone counselling support for students and staff who wish to access these resources,” the school stated.
— With files from the Canadian Press and Hannah Jackson
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