Myles Sanderson, suspect in Saskatchewan stabbings dies after arrest

The residents of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan will sleep easier tonight now that the second suspect in a shocking mass stabbing event has been located.

Rhonda Blackmore (pictured) of the RCMP summed up the feeling at a press briefing on the evening of September 7, "This evening our province is breathing a collective sigh of relief."

Police had been looking tirelessly for Myles Sanderson since the stabbings occurred on September 4. It was believed he was injured and possibly would seek medical aid.

On September 7, police were informed that Myles Sanderson was seen stealing a vehicle parked on the edge of a homeowner's property, who thankfully was not injured during the theft.

The police pursued Sanderson in a high-speed chase and were able to force his vehicle into a ditch. According to the police chief, officers found a knife inside the SUV and proceeded to arrest Myles Sanderson.

Myles Sanderson was taken into custody at 3:30 pm local time and faced charges of first-degree murder. However, he was injured and taken to a hospital in Saskatoon, where he was soon pronounced dead.

The Saskatoon police told the media that they had been looking for Myles Sanderson since May. After being released from prison early for violent crimes, he had stopped meeting with his parole officer and was considered "unlawfully at large."

Myles Sanderson had a lengthy criminal history, with a record showing 59 convictions since he was 18 years old for violent crimes and robbery.

In addition, court papers show that two of the victims killed in Sunday's stabbing spree, his mother and father-in-law Earl and Joyce Burns, had already been attacked and stabbed by Sanderson seven years earlier.

Myles' accomplice his brother, Damien Sanderson, was found dead on August 5.

The commanding officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP, Rhonda Blackmore, informed the press that Damien was found dead with injuries that did not appear to be self-inflicted.

Photo: CBC News

Sanderson's body was found in James Smith Cree Nation, a First Nations community where most of the victims of the attack lived.

Damien Sanderson's body was located in a heavily grassed area near a house being investigated by the police.

The RCMP reported that at least ten people died and another fifteen were wounded during the attacks, which occurred at James Smith Cree Nation and in the nearby village of Weldon to the northeast of Saskatoon on the morning of September 4th.

The attack shocked and saddened the residents of James Smith Cree Nation, which has a population of around 1,000 people and is located about 60 kilometers southeast of Prince Albert.

In Weldon village, just 25km southwest of James Smith Cree Nation, residents were equally taken aback by events in their sleepy hometown of not quite 200 people.

Photo: By Weldongeezer - Own work, Public Domain

It was quite difficult for the police to find the two suspects and they searched far and wide to prevent the brothers from attacking again.

In Twitter update posted on Monday, Regina police Chief Evan Bray had said the two suspects were still at large, despite "ongoing, relentless efforts through the night" from Regina police and RCMP officers to apprehend them.

Photo: Twitter@evanjbray

Blackmore said hundreds of Saskatchewan RCMP staff, from operators to major crime units, were working on the investigation. In addition, the RCMP said that police from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta worked together on the investigations.

Authorities say at this time there is no known motive behind the attacks. Police said the victims were a mix of those chosen at random and some specifically targeted.

Nonetheless, according to The Globe and Mail, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron hinted in a press release that he believes drugs to have played a role.

Photo: screenshot Global News

Chief Cameron said, "This is the destruction we face when harmful, illegal drugs invade our communities, and we demand all authorities to take direction from the chiefs and councils and their membership to create safer and healthier communities for our people."

Canadian Prime minister Justin Trudeau noted on Twitter that the government was in "direct communication" with local authorities, including the James Smith Cree Nation's leadership, and "ready to assist in any way we can."

Mr. Trudeau added, "Those responsible for today's abhorrent attacks must be fully brought to justice."

Trudeau also shared his condolences: "The attacks in Saskatchewan today are horrific and heartbreaking. "I'm thinking of those who have lost a loved one and of those who were injured."

Saskatchewan's Premier Scott Moe thanked police, first responders, and healthcare professionals treating the victims on Twitter.

Photo: Instagram@premierscottmoe

Premier Moe also shared his condolences for the grief the victims' families and the communities are feeling, "There are no words to adequately describe the pain and loss caused by this senseless violence. All of Saskatchewan grieves with the victims and their families."

Photo: Instagram@premierscottmoe