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One person is dead and another is in police custody following a shooting in North Spirit Lake First Nation, a remote Oji-Cree community in northwestern Ontario.
The Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) said police responded to a call about a disturbance in the community shortly after 5 p.m. CT on Friday.
NAPS said a male suspect is in custody and that community members can expect an increased police presence as the investigation continues.
“There is no known ongoing threat to public safety as a result of this incident,” the police service said in a news release issued Friday night. About 430 people live in North Spirit Lake, located about 530 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay and 170 kilometres north of Red Lake.
The chief and council issued a statement about the incident Friday evening.
This is a devastating and unnecessary loss of life that will have a profound impact on their families and on our entire community.– North Spirit Lake First Nation’s chief and council
“North Spirit Lake First Nation is deeply saddened to share that a serious incident occurred in our community early this evening involving the shooting of two community members,” the statement said.
“One individual is currently reported to be in stable condition. Tragically, a second community member has lost their life.”
The statement describes the male suspect as a “man not known to the community.”
“This is a devastating and unnecessary loss of life that will have a profound impact on their families and on our entire community,” it said.
“We ask everyone to please keep those affected, their families, and the entire North Spirit Lake First Nation community in your thoughts and prayers.”
The incident comes on the heels of a shooting in Constance Lake First Nation in the early morning of Aug. 29. Community members were advised to stay indoors for several hours as a result of the investigation.
Constance Lake is an Ojibway and Cree community about 490 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay. Just under 900 people live there.
“Investigators determined the incident occurred at a residence in the community, where an adult male victim sustained injuries during an apparent shooting. The involved residence has since been contained by police,” NAPS said in a statement that evening.
“This led to an integrated emergency and investigative response consisting of the NAPS and OPP’s Emergency Response Teams, OPP’s North East Criminal Operations and NAPS Northeast Crime Unit.”
Mental health counselling and crisis support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Hope for Wellness hotline at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat at www.hopeforwellness.ca.
