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Friends and neighbours await answers from an autopsy in Saskatoon following a murder-suicide in Meadow Lake home on Thursday.
Locals said Robert Bell, 70, and Sonny Morin, 73, were the two men found dead outside a home in the area of 5th Street West and 6th Avenue West
RCMP did not confirm the identities of the men, but said they were both from Meadow Lake.
Police were first called around 10 a.m. about gunshots reported in the area. When officers arrived, they discovered the men’s bodies.
RCMP said an autopsy has been ordered for Bell on Monday.
A community left in shock
Harold Morin told News Talk that Bell was a super-friendly man who will be greatly missed in the community.
“I went into shock and depression I’m still frightened quite a bit,” Morin said. “I had a hard time to come here for coffee but life must go on.”
Another friend of Bell, Jim said the town is still scratching their heads, wondering what could have led to a murder-suicide between two neighbours.
“A lot of people are in deep shock and sadness over the loss of Robert he was very well liked and well known here,” Jim said. “To realize that he is gone so quickly, it’s hard to wrap my head around this.”
Meadow Lake Mayor Gary Vidal first learned of the shots fired in his community through a text he received from his children. They were in the school put under a hold and secure as RCMP investigated gunshots reported in the area.
Vidal says he’s shocked that something like this has happened.
“It impacts everybody in the community in a significant way because you just don’t expect things
Remembering a “wonderful man”
Along with being a father and grandfather, Bell was a board member for the Meadow Lake Native Urban Housing Corporation.
Bernice Daigneault Hammersmith was on the board with Bell – a man she called wonderful.
“He was always an open ear; wanted to hear what’s the matter … and he would go to help it, go to help them.”
While Daigneault Hammersmith didn’t know Bell well, she knows that he was passionate about Métis and housing issues, and always willing to help. She’s left shocked by what happened.
“I don’t know this other man that he had an argument with. Apparently that’s his neighbour. I can’t image what kind of situation would cause that … because of his gentleness.”
