Advertisement

Man dead, woman injured after break-and-enter in eastern Sask. Friday morning: RCMP

RCMP are asking anyone with information, or who witnesses suspicious activity, to call 911 or their local police. (CBC - image credit)
RCMP are asking anyone with information, or who witnesses suspicious activity, to call 911 or their local police. (CBC - image credit)

Four schools in eastern Saskatchewan were in hold-and-secure situations Friday after a man was fatally shot during a break-in at a nearby home early in the morning.

Esterhazy and Broadview RCMP were called shortly after 4 a.m. CST about a break-and-enter and a suspicious death at a home near Round Lake, about 20 kilometres south of Stockholm, Sask., and Esterhazy, Sask., police say.

Mounties found a man who lived in the house dead at the scene. Police consider the death suspicious, and investigators have determined that the man was shot.

Officers also found an injured woman, who was sent to hospital, police say.

STARS ambulance was dispatched to Esterhazy, a town 180 kilometres northeast of Regina, before 3:45 a.m. CST Friday, but a spokesperson says STARS stood down because an air ambulance was not medically required.

Police say the investigation has so far determined that three males broke into the home, stole at least one firearm and the home owner's vehicle, then fled. Police did not specify whether the assailants are adults or youth, and don't have any descriptions of the suspects at this time.

The stolen vehicle was later found abandoned and in flames on a nearby grid road, police say.

RCMP continue to investigate.

As a precaution, Good Spirit School Division No. 204, which operates 28 schools in eastern and central Saskatchewan, placed four of its schools under hold-and-secure — a protocol implemented when there is an emergency outside, but unrelated to, a school.

PJ Gillen School and Esterhazy High School in Esterhazy, Macdonald School in Stockholm, and Grayson School in Grayson were affected.

The schools' doors were locked and monitored, and only students were allowed in. Classes were able to continue as normal, according to the school district.

The division lifted the hold-and-secure procedure at 3 p.m. CST Friday.

Two First Nations near the scene of the crime are also taking precautions.

Cowessess First Nation has locked the doors to its offices, school and daycare. The community is not in lockdown, according to a Facebook post, but doors will not be opened for anyone who cannot be identified.

Sakimay First Nation, meanwhile, has placed all community buildings on lockdown. Leadership is urging residents to stay inside until more information is released, according to a Facebook post.

RCMP expect there to be a continued police presence in the area south of Stockholm and Esterhazy through the next day as the investigation continues.

In the meantime, RCMP are urging the public to stay vigilant, and report any suspicious activity or information to police by calling 911, or their local RCMP detachment or police service.

Anyone who lives in the area and has camera security systems installed is asked to check their footage for anything that could help investigators.