RCMP say 4 dead in shooting at La Loche high school

A teacher is among the four people killed and two critically injured after a shooter opened fire at a high school in the northern Saskatchewan community of La Loche Friday.

Marie Janvier, who was a teaching assistant at the La Loche Community School’s Dene Building, was killed.

Initial reports said that five people died, but the RCMP now say four people were killed in a shooting in the northern Saskatchewan community of La Loche.

La Loche RCMP received the call about an active shooter at the Dene High School at 1 p.m. High school and elementary school students at the La Loche Community School were put under lockdown. Officers seized a gun and took a male into custody at 1:47 p.m.

“Initial information was that there were five deaths as a result of this tragedy. At this time, I can confirm that four individuals are deceased,” said RCMP Superintendent Maureen Levy.

Levy is the chief criminal operations officer for RCMP F Division. She said a number of people were injured, but police have no information about how many were hurt or the type or extent of their injuries.

RCMP also would not reveal any information about the ages of the victims or the shooter.

“Our investigation is in the early onset, so I cannot release that type of information because that could – we have to maintain the integrity of our investigation, so I will not answer questions like that,” said Supt. Levy.

Police investigators are also on scene at a second location in the town, but would not say anything about why. They are asking the public to stay away from the school and the 300 block of Dene Crescent.

Police said several people are dead and they don’t know exactly how many people were injured.

Prime Minister calls it “a parent’s worst nightmare”.

In a national address shortly after 5 p.m., Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had spoken to the premier of Saskatchewan Brad Wall, the local Member of Parliament Georgina Jolibois, and the mayor of La Loche Kevin Janvier  to express sympathy and support.

“I want to thank the first responders who have acted swiftly and bravely,” he said. “We all grieve with and stand with the community of La Loche and all of Saskatchewan on this terrible and tragic day.”

“Obviously this is every parent’s worst nightmare. When I spoke with community leaders, they obviously expressed that the community is reeling and all of us across this country’s hearts are going out to the families and to the whole community.”

Chief Teddy Clark of the Clearwater River Dene Nation also spoke with News Talk Radio on Friday afternoon before the PM’s address.

“I’ve been unofficially told that there have been some casualties. There are some people that are in critical condition that are being med-vac’d and that the shooter is now in custody,” Clarke said in a phone interview Friday afternoon.

The chief said he has heard up to 10 people were shot in the community. He says he has personal connections to some of the victims.

Along with being the MP for the area, Georgina Jolibois is the former mayor of La Loche.

“I am shaken and saddened by this shooting at the high school,” she said in a phone interview from La Loche. “The community is shaken up, though, the community is a fairly strong community and will come together to begin healing and supporting each other.”

She said her thoughts and prayers are with the students, staff, families and everyone who is affected, including her own family members who were at the school.

Reports from people in the community indicate that at least one of the victims was a teacher.

The health region in Buffalo Narrows says extra medical staff are being sent to the community.

Premier Brad Wall posted a statement on Facebook early Friday afternoon expressing shock at the horrific events in La Loche and thanking emergency personnel who responded quickly to the shootings.

News Talk Radio contacted Karen Boucher, a mother who said her two children attend La Loche Community School.

“I got them home, they’re sending all the kids to the arena right now to get picked up. They have a SWAT team and everything. There’s an investigation going on. Everything is blocked off right now,” she said early on Friday afternoon.

“I heard a teacher got shot, and I heard she’s deceased,” she said.
 
Boucher said the shooter was in his late teens.