Two people are dead, another person is critically injured, and a man is in custody facing murder, attempted murder and assault charges, after Tuesday’s shooting in Faro, Yukon.
Yukon RCMP held a news conference on Wednesday afternoon about the incident that happened about 24 hours earlier in the remote community.
Chief Supt. Scott Sheppard, commanding officer of Yukon RCMP, said that a 42-year-old woman and a 73-year-man were killed. He said another man was critically injured, and is in stable condition.
Sheppard did not name the victims, citing respect for the families.
The suspect, Ralph Bernard Shaw of Faro, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, he said. Shaw has been charged with two counts of first degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault.
Shaw remains in custody and is due to appear in court on Nov. 3.
Sheppard offered few other details about the accused, or what happened on Tuesday.
“This is a tragic situation for the town of Faro and Yukon as a whole, and as the situation develops we are limited in what we say,” Sheppard said.
“It is our intention to not jeopardize any aspect of this investigation.”
The investigation involves “multiple crime scenes,” he said.
Sheppard described how police received initial reports of shots fired early Tuesday afternoon. Officers went to a local residence and found an injured person.
Police then went to another residence and found the 42-year-old woman unresponsive. Police and other community members attempted to help the woman but she remained unresponsive, Sheppard said.
Police then put the local school in lockdown as a precaution. Soon after, there were more reports of shots fired elsewhere in the community. Sheppard said police went to the area and found Shaw, taking him into custody without incident.
Sheppard said officers then went to another local residence and found the 73-year-old man dead.
“No community no matter how large or small ever wants to endure this type of event,” Sheppard said.
Watch Wednesday’s RCMP news conference:
Some territorial leaders issued statements earlier on Wednesday.
“Our hearts are with the community and the families of the injured victims as we await to hear more about the incidents that have occurred,” Yukon’s incoming MP Brendan Hanley wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday morning.
Dawson City Mayor Wayne Potoroka posted that flags at his community’s town hall were at half mast “to honour the victims in Faro.”
“This hits us all hard. They’re not alone with their grief,” Potoroka wrote.
The City of Whitehorse also tweeted on Wednesday that flags at city buildings were at half mast “to honour the victims of the tragic event” in Faro.
Flags at City of Whitehorse facilities are being flown at half-mast to honour the victims of the tragic event that took place on Tuesday, October 26 in the community of Faro.
—@city_whitehorse
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