19-year-old charged with murder on Wahpeton Dakota Nation

One 19-year-old man is dead and another is facing a murder charge after an assault on the Wahpeton Dakota Nation.

According to the Prince Albert RMCP, officers were alerted to the incident shortly after midnight Dec. 26 when a 17-year-old girl arrived at the Wahpeton Dakota Nation Health Centre suffering injuries from an assault. Officers immediately went to the residence on the First Nation where the alleged assault occurred, and inside they found 19-year-old Zellall Highway suffering serious injuries. Highway was taken to the local clinic for treatment, RCMP said, but was pronounced dead by medical staff.

According to RCMP, officers quickly identified 19-year-old Nathan Waditaka as a suspect, and he was found and arrested at a nearby home. Waditaka is now facing charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault and sexual assault, and is scheduled to make a court appearance Monday.

Prince Albert RCMP are still investigating the incident, with help from several other agencies. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday in Saskatoon.