Jaydon Flett
APTN National News
LA LOCHE, Sask. —Four people are dead and another two in critical condition after a shooting at a Dene school in the northern Saskatchewan community of La Loche.
The suspect is in police custody said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who said he was saddened and shocked by the news.
“I offer the families and friends of the victims our deepest condolences on this darkest of days,” he said in a statement from Davos, Switzerland. “Our hearts and prayers are also with those injured at the attack, that they may have a full and speedy recovery.
La Loche Community School student Noel Desjaurlais-Thomas told APTN National News he knows at least three females had been wounded during the incident which also caused fatalities.
Desjaurlais-Thomas said the shooter may have been 18 or 19 years-old.
The RCMP and emergency crews were on the scene in La Loche, Sask., along with a STARS helicopter ambulance which was dispatched to respond to the incident.
The La Loche Community School issued a statement saying an “emergency” was occurring at the school’s “Dene Building” triggering a lock down.
The Dene high school includes grades 7 to 12.
“The elementary school is also under lock down which will not be lifted until we hear that it is safe,” said the statement posted on Facebook.
The RCMP said in a statement that it was investigating a “serious incident.”
CTV News quoted the local fire chief saying that a youth with a gun was in custody.
La Loche is a remote Dene community of about 3,000 people and sits on the eastern shore of Lac La Loche in the northern boreal forest.
-with a file from The Canadian Press
Thoughts and prayers to everyone at La Loche.