‘You don’t see gravel doing that’: Rouleau man says bullet hit truck near Highway 39

As the RCMP continues to investigate the fatal shooting of Tanya Myers, one man from Rouleau is questioning the circumstances that he said left a bullet hole in his vehicle.

“I never found the bullet, but we did find the hole,” Will Dobson said, pointing to the hood of his truck.

The incident happened several months before 44-year-old Myers was shot and killed while travelling in the passenger seat of an SUV while driving on Highway 39 northwest of Weyburn, on Sept. 12.

Both incidents occurred within a span of about 100 kilometres.

Saskatchewan RCMP said there is no evidence that would suggest a link between each case right now.

Dobson believes his truck was shot somewhere near Rouleau, 50 km southwest of Regina.

The hole sits in front of the passenger seat on a truck on the hood. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)

He is familiar with rocks being kicked up while travelling on grid roads. However, the discovery of a hole with charred edges on the hood of his truck has left behind an uneasy feeling.

“I don’t know what else it could be,” he said. “What else is going through a hood – in the hood and out of it – and leaving a hole like that? You don’t see gravel doing that.”

Dobson was travelling between a farm west of Rouleau back to his own yard around lunchtime on April 27.

He spent about 10 minutes driving across Highway 39, through Rouleau, and east to his yard.

When he returned to the yard, Dobson said his dad noticed the hole.

Will Dobson opens the hood of his truck to show where the bullet exited the vehicle. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)

Dobson said he didn’t see the small diagonal hole until he got out of the truck to look for himself.

He said this was the first time he had seen the damage, and didn’t think it would have been there for long.

Dobson didn’t feel or hear anything unusual on his drive home and said he did not know the exact location where it was hit. No bullets were found.

He felt “surprised” looking at the hole that penetrated the hood of his truck in front of his driver’s seat.

“I didn’t really know what to think of it,” Dobson said. “I didn’t know if somebody was shooting at me or if it was a stray bullet.”

RCMP with no leads

Saskatchewan RCMP said its Milestone detachment investigated the incident in the RM of Bratt’s Lake, after Dobson and his mom filed a report.

“Inquiries were made in the area and no suspects were located,” the statement read. “Over that same April weekend, there were no other incidents in the area reported to police involving firearms.”

Dobson said officers confirmed with him that it was a bullet that struck his vehicle during the investigation.

With no leads or arrests in the investigation, Dobson said he put the situation out of is mind until he heard about the shooting that left Myers dead.

Dobson points to where the bullet exited the truck underneath the hood of his vehicle. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)

People living in Rouleau feeling ‘scared and nervous’

Jecey Buburuz, a resident of Rouleau, drives on Highway 39 while travelling to work every day.

“Ever since this happened, we were very cautious and scared to drive on the highway because we know no one’s been caught yet,” he said. “No one’s been held accountable.”

Buburuz said he moved with his family to Rouleau from Regina to leave behind some of the crime that came with a bigger city.

Now, he said the community is feeling on edge about the situation.

“Lots of people in the community are talking and obviously (they’re) really scared and nervous, hoping they’re not going to be the next victim of whatever’s going on out there,” Buburuz said.

Dobson said he doesn’t know if the shot that hit his truck was targeted or a stray bullet.

“You can never be too safe or be careful,” he said. “Especially if you’re the one with the gun in your hands.”

While Dobson drives down the road now, he said he doesn’t feel nervous.

“What could have happened to me could have been awful,” he said. “Just the fact that I didn’t really notice it happening, or didn’t see it happen, I don’t have that shock factor that I think I would have had if I saw it.”

RCMP said if anyone has reports on either situation, to share it with police.