A sequence of stabbing assaults in and round an Indigenous group in Canada final month was carried out fully by one among two brothers who had been accused within the rampage, authorities mentioned Thursday.
Myles Sanderson, 32, was additionally chargeable for the killing of his brother, Damien Sanderson, 31, mentioned Rhonda Blackmore, a commanding officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
In an announcement, Blackmore mentioned the whole variety of deaths now attributed to Myles Sanderson was 11.
Authorities had beforehand accused each brothers of the slayings, which occurred within the James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon in Saskatchewan on Sept. 4. Eighteen individuals have been additionally injured within the assaults.
Damien Sanderson was concerned within the preliminary planning and preparation of the stabbings, Blackmore mentioned, although the extent of his involvement remained unclear.
After a preliminary investigation based mostly on sufferer and eyewitness accounts, homicide, tried homicide costs and breaking and getting into costs have been filed in opposition to Damien Sanderson the day after the stabbing spree, Blackmore mentioned.
“The Saskatchewan RCMP believes it’s essential to make clear Damien’s involvement within the sequence of those occasions to reveal our continued dedication to transparency to the victims and households of these affected, and to the general public,” she mentioned.
Damien Sanderson was discovered lifeless Sept. 6 in what authorities have beforehand described as a “closely grassed space in proximity to a home” on the James Cree Nation. He had seen accidents that weren’t believed to be self-inflicted, Blackmore mentioned final month.
In her assertion Thursday, Blackmore didn’t present extra particulars about his dying or say how investigators decided that Myles Sanderson killed him.
Myles Sanderson, who police beforehand mentioned was 30 years previous, died Sept. 7 after a pursuit with authorities. Whereas in custody, he “went into medical misery” and was pronounced lifeless at a hospital in Saskatoon.
His explanation for dying additionally stays unclear, as is a doable motive.
Blackmore mentioned investigators have been persevering with to evaluate witness statements, bodily proof and different info to find out the motive and why some victims have been focused.
“This can take time to finish and the fact is, we might by no means actually know precisely why,” she mentioned.
