Increased police presence persists on Big Island Lake Cree Nation six weeks after a fatal shooting, as new information comes to light. 

On December 30th, Pierceland RCMP were called to the Cree Nation around 5:10 a.m. after receiving multiple reports of gunshots. 

Officers arrived to find two injured youths at homes adjacent to each other. They were taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and officers learned that they were shot by suspects on a side-by-side. 

A second report of a shooting came in at 6:00 a.m. Officers located a 31-year-old male with gunshot wounds while driving to this call. Resuscitation efforts commenced, but the man was declared dead at the scene. 

Meanwhile, additional officers responded to a report of a fourth gunshot victim. A man was taken to hospital with serious injuries, and officers learned that he was with the 31-year-old male when they were shot by suspects, also on a side-by-side. A dangerous person alert was subsequently issued and cancelled by 4:49 p.m. 

The RCMP says they were unable to confirm if the shootings were random or targeted. 

Officers are now asking the public to help identify a side-by-side vehicle and its occupants, who are believed to be involved in the homicide and shooting. There is a video and pictures available here. The side-by-side is white with a black roof. 

“As we’ve said before, we need people to tell us what they know. People have information about this side-by-side, who was driving it and who was riding in it. They need to talk to police,” says Insp. St. Germaine. “I know some people are nervous about speaking to police. I urge you to sit down with our investigators and talk about it. They will listen to you.” 

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to report it to police by calling 310-RCMP or Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers.