Mounties ask for help locating ATV possibly involved in fatal Big Island Lake shooting

Mounties are asking the public for help tracking down a side-by-side ATV and its occupants, who police believe may have been involved in a fatal shooting on the Big Island Lake Cree Nation on Dec. 30.

The RCMP’s Homicide Investigation Unit is continuing its investigation into the incident that left 31-year old Neil Wahpistikwan dead and three others injured.

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The RCMP said officers are working to “identify and locate the suspects involved, locate and interview key witnesses, collect and review video surveillance, and follow up on various sightings of the side-by-side and additional information related to it.”

Police have released images and a video of the side-by-side, which was described as white with a black roof.

“Over the course of any case, investigators use a variety of strategic techniques to advance a file, and many of them occur out of public view. Now, we’re asking the public to help us move this investigation forward,” inspector Ashley St. Germaine, with the Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes Branch, said in a statement.

Anyone with information that could further the investigation was asked to report it to police or submit a tip anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers.

“As we’ve said before, we need people to tell us what they know. People have information about this side-by-side, who was driving it and who was riding in it. They need to talk to police,” St. Germaine added.

“I know some people are nervous about speaking to police. I urge you to sit down with our investigators and talk about it. They will listen to you.”

“As a result of continued investigation, Saskatchewan RCMP are also now providing additional information about the incident that led to the dangerous persons alert,” the federal police force noted.

At about 5:10 a.m. on Dec. 30, the Pierceland RCMP detachment received multiple reports of gunshots on the Cree nation.

The officers responding to the call found an injured youth at a residence and a second injured youth at another nearby home. Both victims were taken to hospital with injuries described by police as serious.

“Investigators later determined the two youth were together when they were shot by suspects on a side-by-side,” said the police force.

Roughly an hour later, officers at the scene of the initial call received a report about a second shooting on the Cree nation.

While they were headed to the second call, police found an injured 31-year-old man, who was later identified as Wahpistikwan.

“His injuries were consistent with gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began resuscitation efforts,” said police. Paramedics arrived, but the man was declared dead at the scene.

At the same time, other officers responding to the second call found paramedics attending to an adult male victim at a nearby home.

“He was taken to hospital with injuries described as serious but non-life-threatening in nature. Investigation later determined he was with the 31-year-old male when they were shot by suspects on a side-by-side,” noted the Mounties.

Mounties said investigators determined the incidents were connected but were unable to confirm whether the shootings were random or targeted.

A dangerous persons alert was issued at around 8:23 a.m. on Dec. 30 after police determined that there was a continued risk to public safety on the Cree nation and the surrounding area.

“Senior RCMP officers evaluated and assessed the need for an emergency alert against the information they were receiving about this incident,” said St. Germaine.

“Shortly after 8 a.m., it was determined that this incident met the criteria for an emergency alert. When that determination was made, the appropriate teams were immediately engaged and the alert was issued.”

The alert was cancelled at approximately 4:49 p.m. that same day, despite no arrests being made.