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== Events<ref>{{Cite web |title=A timeline of the deadly stabbing rampage at James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan {{!}} The Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/amp/news/canada/2023/04/27/a-timeline-of-the-deadly-stabbing-rampage-at-james-smith-cree-nation-in-saskatchewan.html |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=www.thestar.com}}</ref> ==
== Events<ref>{{Cite web |title=A timeline of the deadly stabbing rampage at James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan {{!}} The Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/amp/news/canada/2023/04/27/a-timeline-of-the-deadly-stabbing-rampage-at-james-smith-cree-nation-in-saskatchewan.html |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=www.thestar.com}}</ref> ==
=== Prelude ===
=== Prelude ===
On September 1, 2022, Myles Sanderson arrived at the [[James Smith Cree Nation]] within [[Saskatchewan]], a community of about 2,000 residents located 200 kilometres (120 mi) northeast of [[Saskatoon]], and 300 kilometres (190 mi) north of [[Regina]]. He had sold cocaine there.
On September 1, 2022, Myles Sanderson arrived at the [[James Smith Cree Nation]] within [[Saskatchewan]], a community of about 2,000 residents located 200 kilometres (120 mi) northeast of [[Saskatoon]], and 300 kilometres (190 mi) north of [[Regina]]. He had sold cocaine there that day.


The next day, on the afternoon of September 2, Myles, along with his brother Damien was passenger in the car with the woman when Myles assaulted her and she exited the car. Myles then tried to attack her with the car. After the attack, brothers picked up another woman, went at Knistino Bar, before they returned to James Smith Cree Nation where they had sold cocaine.
The next day, on the afternoon of September 2, Myles, along with his brother Damien was passenger in the car with the woman when Myles assaulted her and she exited the car. Myles then tried to attack her with the car. After the attack, brothers picked up another woman, went at Knistino Bar, before they returned to James Smith Cree Nation where they had sold cocaine.

Revision as of 19:30, 7 May 2023

2022 Saskatchewan stabbings
2022 Saskatchewan stabbings is located in Saskatchewan
James Smith Cree Nation
James Smith Cree Nation
Weldon
Weldon
2022 Saskatchewan stabbings (Saskatchewan)
2022 Saskatchewan stabbings is located in Canada
2022 Saskatchewan stabbings
Weldon
Weldon
2022 Saskatchewan stabbings (Canada)
LocationJames Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, Saskatchewan, Canada
DateSeptember 4, 2022 (2022-09-04)
5:30 a.m. – 8:19 a.m. (UTC−06:00)
Attack type
Mass stabbing, spree killing, mass murder
Deaths12 (including the perpetrator)
Injured18
PerpetratorMyles Sanderson

On September 4, 2022, Myles Sanderson killed 11 and injured 18 people in mass stabbing at 13 locations on the James Smith Cree Nation and in Weldon, Saskatchewan, Canada. [1] Some of the victims are believed to have been targeted, while others were randomly attacked.[2] It is one of the deadliest massacres in Canadian history.[3]

Emergency alerts relating to the incidents were issued throughout the province of Saskatchewan and later extended to Manitoba and Alberta. Police quickly identified and sought two suspects in the killing spree: brothers Damien Sanderson, 31, and Myles Sanderson, 32.[4] On September 5, Damien was found dead with multiple wounds.[5] At 3:28 p.m. on September 7, after his vehicle was PIT-manoeuvred off the road by police, Myles surrendered and was arrested in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, before entering medical distress shortly after and dying in police custody later that day.[6][7][8] On October 6, the RCMP said there was evidence that Myles was solely responsible for all eleven homicides, including Damien's.[9] On April 27, 2023, RCMP issued a preliminary timeline of events before, during and after the attack.[10]

Events[11]

Prelude

On September 1, 2022, Myles Sanderson arrived at the James Smith Cree Nation within Saskatchewan, a community of about 2,000 residents located 200 kilometres (120 mi) northeast of Saskatoon, and 300 kilometres (190 mi) north of Regina. He had sold cocaine there that day.

The next day, on the afternoon of September 2, Myles, along with his brother Damien was passenger in the car with the woman when Myles assaulted her and she exited the car. Myles then tried to attack her with the car. After the attack, brothers picked up another woman, went at Knistino Bar, before they returned to James Smith Cree Nation where they had sold cocaine.

At around midnight of September 3, brothers got into a fight, presumed drug-related, with another man, but no one was injured.

At 4:03 a.m. that day, RCMP received a call saying Damien has stolen a vehicle on the First Nation and may be impaired. At 4:15 a.m. two officers responded and looked for him.

Police found the stolen vehicle at a home at 5:35 a.m. Damien was inside, but he looked different than a 2014 prison photo that police had. Damien also gave officers a different name. Eventually, police looked up for Damien for three hours, with no success. There is no mention of Myles at the time.

Brothers were picked up from the home around noon and taken to the Kinistino Bar. They were dropped off around 1:30 p.m., walked around for several hours before they assaulted Gregory Burns, who would later be among the victims, at a home at 5 p.m. and then separated. Damien went to a Knistino bar in a neighbouring community and told a woman that he and his brother have “a mission” and “people would hear all about it in the next few hours.”

He returned to James Smith before midnight, and met with Myles, who remained there. Brothers then assaulted the man, but without serious injuries.

At around 3:30 a.m. on September 4, brothers took a grey van from a home on the First Nation. They made their last known drug sale at 4 a.m.

They returned to a home on the First Nation at 4:45 a.m. and left in the van. Witness later described them as “guzzling booze” and “pumping themselves up for something.” According to a RCMP it is the starting point of the rampage.

Timeline of events

Weldon viewed from the south east

According to the preliminary RCMP timeline of events, killing spree began at around 5:30 a.m. CST on September 4, 2022 in the James Smith Cree Nation. At that time, Myles and Damien forced themselves into the house of a woman they were looking, and whom they didn't find there.

At around 5:40 a.m., brothers forced themselves into another home and attacked a man with scissors. As Myles was leaving, he grabbed a knife from the kitchen, and the victim called 911. The brothers got into a fight in the van outside and an injured Damien Sanderson ran into the bush, where he was found dead at 11:30 a.m. on September 5.

At 5:59 a.m., second report came to the police in which two more injuries were reported. Between 6:03 and 6:07 a.m. Myles killed Robert Sanderson, at one home, and Christian and Lana Head at another home. He had also stolen Christian Head’s truck. Myles then went to a home and attacked Bonnie Burns and two children. He killed Gregory Burns there.

At 6:14 a.m. Myles attacked a man and woman at another home and steals an SUV. At 6:19 a.m. Myles attacked his former father-in-law, Earl Burns and his wife at a home. Myles drove away, while Burns chased him in a school bus. The bus rolled in a ditch and Burns died on the bus. Then, at 6:24 a.m. Myles went into another home and attacked two men, injuring one of them.

At 6:29 a.m. Myles attacked Thomas Burns, his mother Carol Burns, and two men inside a home. Thomas Burns went outside, Myles followed him and hit him with the stolen SUV. Myles got out of the vehicle and attacked Thomas Burns again. Both Thomas and Carol Burns died.

Between 6:36 a.m. and 6:47 a.m., Myles was confronted by a woman at one of the homes but she was not injured. He went to another home, where he attacked a woman and man and took a red van, which he later abandoned in a grassy area. Meanwhile, at 6:43 a.m. he took a cellphone and black SUV from another home.

At 6:53 a.m. Myles went back to the home where he killed Gregory Burns and attacked Bonnie Burns again. He also killed Lydia Burns, who went to the home to help. Both women died. They were the last victims at James Smith Cree Nation.

At 7 a.m. Myles asked a woman at a home in nearby Kinistino for money and gas. He leaves in the black SUV without hurting her. Video surveillance from a gas station in Kinistino shows Myles was driving towards Weldon, the village of 160 residents which is about 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the reserve at 7:08 a.m.

At 7:27 a.m. Weldon residents reported seeing the black SUV and Myles in the community. There’s a report that a vehicle has been rummaged through and a first aid kit and crowbar stolen.

At 8:19 a.m. Myles killed Wesley Petterson at a home in Weldon. He was the final victim of the attack.

Police response

At 5:40 a.m. RCMP was first notified of stabbings at multiple locations in the James Smith Cree Nation. At 5:43 a.m., two RCMP officers were dispatched to the scene, and they arrived there at 6:18 a.m. At 6:20 a.m., one of the officers left the first scene for a second scene, where he arrived at 6:32 a.m.

At 7:12 a.m.,[12][13] the RCMP issued an emergency alert within the immediate region, advising residents to stay in secure locations and to use caution when allowing others into their homes. It also alerted citizens not to approach the suspects and instead report them to 9-1-1.[14]

At 8:20 a.m., the civil emergency was expanded to the entirety of Saskatchewan, after the suspects were found to have access to a vehicle.[12][14] At the request of the Saskatchewan RCMP, the civil emergency was later expanded to the entirety of the neighbouring provinces Alberta and Manitoba.[15] Police checkpoints were established between Regina and Prince Albert.[12][14] The suspects' vehicle was later spotted in Regina at 11:45 a.m.[4]

According to Saskatchewan RCMP's commanding officer Rhonda Blackmore, a motive for the stabbings is unclear. Some of the victims may have been targeted, while others appear to have been attacked randomly.[4][16] Dead and injured victims were found at 13 locations.[17][18] STARS air ambulances and road ambulances were dispatched to triage and transport the wounded to hospitals.[19] The Saskatchewan Health Authority initiated a code orange, briefly issuing additional staff in hospitals local to the stabbings to help with the influx of patients.[19]

Discovery and capture

At 2:07 p.m. on September 7, a break-and-enter was reported in the town of Wakaw, and Myles was reportedly spotted northeast of the town, armed with a knife. An emergency alert was issued by the RCMP at 2:49 p.m., warning that a man armed with a knife was last seen in Wakaw, had stolen a white Chevrolet Avalanche, and that the suspect was believed to be related to the stabbings. The stolen truck was spotted at 3:17 p.m. by the driver of an unmarked police vehicle driving westbound on Highway 11 towards Rosthern, and a PIT manoeuvre was used to direct it into a ditch. The driver of the truck was identified as Myles, and he was apprehended by police at 3:28 p.m.[7] He surrendered and was arrested in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, before entering unspecified medical distress at 3:33 p.m. and dying in police custody later that day.[20] On September 9, the suspects' original vehicle was found abandoned east of Crystal Springs.[21]

Casualties

Twelve people died, including Myles and Damien Sanderson.[1] All were adults, aged between 23 and 78 years.[22] A further 18 people were injured.[7] As of September 7, ten were hospitalized, two in critical condition.[7] Several of those killed were Myles' in-laws, two of whom he admitted stabbing in 2015.[23]

Perpetrator

The RCMP initially identified two suspects who were wanted in connection with the stabbings; they were brothers[24][25] Damien Sanderson, 31, and Myles-Brandon Sanderson, 32.[26][4][27] They were believed to be driving a black Nissan Rogue,[28] and were reportedly seen in Melfort and the Arcola Avenue area of Regina.[29][14] On September 5, Myles was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and breaking and entering in connection with the attacks, and Damien with first-degree murder.[22]

Police had been searching for Myles Sanderson since May, when he stopped meeting with his caseworker. He had been given statutory release in August 2021 after serving a five-year sentence for assault, robbery, mischief, and making threats. According to the Parole Board of Canada, Myles had 59 previous convictions, which included assaulting a police officer. Due to these, he had a lifetime ban from weapons, and was ordered to stay away from alcohol and other drugs. He used cocaine since he was 14, and had a history of rage, mainly under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs.[30][31]

On October 6, the RCMP said Myles alone committed the killings, including that of Damien. They also said that Damien was involved in "the initial planning and preparation" for the stabbings but that "something may have changed" when the rampage commenced.[9]

Reactions

At noon on September 4, the Joint Chiefs and Councils of the James Smith Cree Nation declared a local state of emergency, effective until 5:00 p.m. on September 30.[12] Additionally, the community set up two emergency operations centres.[18] The attacks occurred hours before the scheduled CFL football game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Regina, part of the popular Labour Day Classic. Extra police were deployed to Mosaic Stadium in Regina during the game.[12]

Queen Elizabeth II, in what would be her final public statement before her death the following day,[32] said that she "mourn[s] with all Canadians at this tragic time".[33] The premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe, said, "There are no words to adequately describe the pain and loss caused by this senseless violence." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the stabbings "horrific and heartbreaking", and said he was "thinking of those who have lost a loved one and of those who were injured".[12]

The Peace Tower in Ottawa and all federal buildings in Saskatchewan flew the Canadian flag at half-mast. Premier Moe announced that all flags at provincial government buildings would be lowered to half-mast for ten days in honour of the dead. Universities, school boards, municipal governments, and other organizations have also lowered flags to half-mast and released statements of condolences, with the Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert First Nations University campuses hosting prayer and candlelight vigils.[22]

It was suggested by analysts that the RCMP's extensive use of emergency alerts as part of public communications regarding the manhunt was a contrast and response to the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks,[34] where the RCMP had relied almost exclusively on social media to post information regarding the suspect, and were unable to agree on an alert before the suspect was ultimately located and shot by police.[35][34] At least 12 emergency alerts were issued between September 4 and 7: this included alerts directly related to the Sanderson manhunt, as well as alerts for unrelated reports of shots fired in Brittania, and Witchekan Lake First Nation.[36]

The Parole Board of Canada committed to review the decision to release Myles Sanderson. Despite his extensive history of violence, Sanderson's initial grant of statutory release was mandatory. However, he violated his parole, leading to a suspension of his release, but the suspension was lifted despite the parole board acknowledging his high risk to re-offend violently.[37]

During a September 8 press conference held at the Bernard Constant Community School in James Smith Cree Nation, Chief of James Smith Cree Nation, Darryl Burns, Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte, Chief Bart Tsannie, and Vice Chief Christopher Jobb called on Canada to "address the roots of violence in Indigenous communities". They called for federal parole board reforms, greater "autonomy for communities like theirs, including tribal police and the ability for bands to issue resolutions that could ban members from a community", as well as increased support for mental health and addictions treatment programs.[38][39] Chief Burns—whose sister Gloria, a member of the community's response team and an addictions counsellor, was killed after responding alone to the emergency call—said that the widow of Damien Sanderson should not bear the "guilt and shame and responsibility" for the stabbings and that his family were choosing to forgive.[38] Chief Burns said that the plight of remote First Nation communities like theirs would only receive media attention for a two week interval after the tragedy, so it was important to articulate their concerns during that window of time.[38]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Manhunt for stabbing spree suspect continues after brother found dead". Regina Leader-Post. September 6, 2022. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  2. ^ Dudha, Aishwarya; Benson, Andrew (September 4, 2022). "Sask RCMP say 10 dead, 15 injured in Saskatchewan stabbings as suspects remain at large". Global News. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Canadian police search province for deadly stabbing suspects". Associated Press. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d Murphy, Matt; Lukov, Yaroslav (September 5, 2022). "Canada stabbings: Police hunt suspects after killing spree in Saskatchewan". BBC News. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  5. ^ Salahieh, Nouran (September 7, 2022). "Saskatchewan mass stabbing suspect still at large as Canadian police expand search". CNN. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "Myles Sanderson, second suspect in Canada stabbing rampage, dies in hospital after suffering 'medical distress'". ABC News. September 7, 2022. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d "Subject of Sask. manhunt dead after going into 'medical distress' following arrest: RCMP". CTV News Regina. September 7, 2022. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  8. ^ "Saskatchewan stabbing suspect Myles Sanderson died from drug overdose: sources | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Myles Sanderson responsible for all 11 Sask. stabbing deaths: RCMP". CTV News Regina. October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "A timeline of the deadly stabbing rampage at James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan". thestar.com. April 27, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  11. ^ "A timeline of the deadly stabbing rampage at James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan | The Star". www.thestar.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "Saskatchewan RCMP say 10 dead, 15 hospitalized after stabbings, suspects still at large". CBC News. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  13. ^ Tait, Carrie; Pruden, Jana G.; Macdonald, Nancy; Smith, Alanna (September 7, 2022). "Manhunt ends with death of Saskatchewan mass-stabbings fugitive". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on September 9, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d "Sask. RCMP say suspects still at large after 10 killed, 15 injured in stabbings". CTV News Saskatoon. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  15. ^ "10 dead, 15 injured in stabbings in two Saskatchewan communities: RCMP". toronto.citynews.ca. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  16. ^ Romero, Dennis. "10 dead in stabbing attacks, some apparently random, in Saskatchewan". CNBC. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  17. ^ ""What we know about the Saskatchewan communities devastated by mass stabbings", CBC News". Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  18. ^ a b Shakil, Ismail (September 5, 2022). "Canada stabbing spree suspects on the loose after 10 killed, 15 wounded". Reuters. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Sask. RCMP say suspects still at large after 10 killed, 15 injured in stabbings". Saskatoon. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  20. ^ "Second suspect in Canada stabbing spree dies in hospital after suffering 'medical distress'". ABC News. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  21. ^ "Vehicle believed to have been driven by Sask. stabbing suspect located by RCMP". Regina. September 9, 2022. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  22. ^ a b c "'She's a hero': Slain mother of 5 among victims ID'd in mass stabbing". CBC. September 7, 2022. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  23. ^ "Canada stabbings suspect Myles Sanderson dead after arrest". BBC News. September 7, 2022. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "Sask stabbing suspect found dead, other suspect still at large: RCMP". CTV News Regina. September 5, 2022. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  25. ^ "RCMP say 1 suspect sought in Sask. stabbing found dead, other still at large". CBC News. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  26. ^ Stoppers, Saskatchewan Crime. "Wanted-Myles-Brandon SANDERSON". saskcrimestoppers.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  27. ^ Pannett, Rachel (September 4, 2022). "At least 10 dead and 15 injured in stabbings, Saskatchewan police say". Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  28. ^ "RCMP issue dangerous person alert after stabbings around First Nation". 980 CJME. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  29. ^ Graziosi, Graig (September 4, 2022). "Police search for suspects in multiple, random stabbings across Saskatchewan". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  30. ^ Nicholson, Katie (September 6, 2022). "Parole records reveal Saskatchewan suspect's violent history". CBC News. Archived from the original on September 6, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  31. ^ "Police confirm that hunt for James Smith Cree Nation suspect Myles Sanderson dates back to May". CBC News. September 5, 2022. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  32. ^ "In last public statement, Queen Elizabeth extended condolences following Saskatchewan stabbing rampage", Saskatoon StarPhoenix, September 8, 2022, retrieved September 8, 2022
  33. ^ A message from The Queen to the Governor General and the people of Canada, The Royal Family, retrieved September 7, 2022
  34. ^ a b "Saskatchewan stabbing alerts suggest RCMP learning from past mistakes: Experts". CTV News. September 7, 2022. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  35. ^ Flanagan, Ryan (April 22, 2020). "N.S. RCMP say they were 'in process' of preparing alert when gunman was killed". CTV News. Archived from the original on April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  36. ^ "Saskatchewan stabbings: Breaking down the use of emergency alert systems | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  37. ^ Brean, Joseph (September 7, 2022). "Parole board saw high risk of violence in Myles Sanderson, but approved his release anyway". National Post. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  38. ^ a b c Salloum, Alec; Vescera, Zak (September 8, 2022). "'Trying to hold myself together' says Chief of James Smith Cree Nation after killing rampage". The StarPhoenix. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Retrieved September 9, 2022. I have to be vocal because in two weeks time the cameras are going to be shut off. The politicians are going to go home. What's going to happen to us?
  39. ^ Pruden, Jana G.; Tait, Carrie (September 9, 2022). "'We've got to protect our community,' says James Smith Cree Nation chief after Saskatchewan stabbing rampage". The Globe And Mail. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
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