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A 44-year-old woman from Weyburn is dead after a bullet struck the vehicle she was a passenger of on Highway 39, northwest of Weyburn.
“Her death is considered suspicious and Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes is now investigating,” RCMP said in a statement.
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This happened just after 8 p.m. on Friday, near the Richardson Pioneer/Viterra grain terminals/elevators on Highway 39.
RCMP received a report of a person who was seriously injured in an SUV.
Two women were travelling together in a black Ford Explorer towards Weyburn when they heard a “loud crack.”
“Investigation to date indicates someone discharged a firearm, which struck and entered the travelling Ford Explorer, injuring the passenger,” RCMP said.
The woman died at the scene and it was determined she had been shot.
The woman driving the SUV—also from the Weyburn area—is not considered a suspect and is not in police custody.
“At this time, investigation indicates this incident may be random in nature,” RCMP said.
According to RCMP, the women were friends.
Investigation in early stages
RCMP held a news conference Saturday afternoon to provide further details on the situation.
Inspector Ashley St. Germaine of the RCMP Major Crimes Branch said the investigation is still in its early stages.
“What we know is that there was a firearm that was used and a shot entered the back of the vehicle,” she explained.
She was unable to comment further on how the incident occurred, but reiterated that the RCMP is exploring all possibilities.
RCMP are conducting interviews with people who were on the scene but couldn’t provide further details to protect the integrity of the investigation.
RCMP asks public for help
The RCMP are asking anyone in the area who was driving on Highway 39 Friday night to report any suspicious people, vehicles or activity to police.
“Perhaps you know or saw something last night? Did someone say they were going target practicing? Did you see a vehicle driving erratically on Highway 39 or any other suspicious activities?” St. Germaine said.
“These are just examples, but we want to investigate the full scope of possibilities.”
RCMP is asking people to go through all footage or pictures for anything out of the ordinary.
“We need all the information that we can get, because we don’t know right now, and the public doesn’t know right now, what little piece might be the turning point for our investigation,” she said.
“So we want to get every single thing that we can to forward this investigation.”
It’s also asking the public to remain vigilant, especially farmers who might be working late in the field.
As of 1:20 p.m. on Saturday, RCMP said there have been no other reports of suspicious activity or people have been reported in connection to this incident.
RCMP are monitoring the investigation and if an urgent public safety risk is identified, it will notify the public.
Highway 39 reopened
Highway 39 is now open to motorists, but there will be an increased police presence through the weekend in the Weyburn area.
“In that particular area, there is definitely an increased police presence as we’re working through forensic examination of the scene and trying to gather from the area any additional information that’s going to forward the investigation,” St. Germaine said.
— with files from 980 CJME’s Jacob Bamhour
