Hudson Bay reeling after man charged with killing estranged wife

People in a small northeast Saskatchewan community are reacting with shock and disbelief following the death of a young mother and the arrest of her ex-husband.

Stacey Lewis, 27, was found dead after RCMP responded to reports of a shooting at a home in Hudson Bay, Sask., located about 50 kilometres west of the Manitoba border.

Steven Lee Lewis, 32, was arrested soon after and charged with first-degree murder.

Sherry Pilon, councillor and owner of the local newspaper, said few facts are available, but the case is all people are talking about.

“It’s hard to believe stuff like that happens in a small community,” she said.

Pilon said the couple used to be married and shared custody of a daughter and son who were between the ages of 4 and 8.

Steven Lewis was active on social media where he shared his interest in firearms and the outdoors on his Youtube channel and Facebook page.

Pilon said gun ownership is common in what she called “bush country.”

“It is hunting here in Hudson Bay. Probably over half the population here owns guns, so it’s not anything that would surprise anyone,” she said.

Lewis is scheduled to make his first appearance in Melfort provincial court on Tuesday morning.

Correction: A previous version of this story spelled the victim’s name Stacie Lewis, according to information initially provided by RCMP.