Two suspects – Damien Sanderson, 31, and Myles Sanderson, 30 – are still at large, according to Rhonda Blackmore, commanding officer of the Saskatchewan Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The victims were found at 13 locations in James Smith Cree Nation, an Indigenous community of about 3,400 people, and Weldon, a village with a small population of some 200 people.
“There may be additional injured victims who transported themselves to various hospitals,” Blackmore said in a news conference, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported.
She said the two suspects “are believed to be in a black Nissan Rogue” but they may have changed their vehicle and their “direction of travel is unknown.”
“At this stage in our investigation, we believe some victims have been targeted by the suspect and others have been attacked randomly,” said Blackmore.
Alerts have been issued in Saskatchewan and the neighboring provinces of Alberta and Manitoba, with people advised “to take precautions and consider sheltering in place.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the attacks “horrific and heartbreaking” and thanked first responders on the ground.
“I’m thinking of those who have lost a loved one and of those who were injured,” he wrote on Twitter.
“We are closely monitoring the situation, and urge everyone to follow updates from local authorities.”
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the RCMP and other security agencies are making efforts “to apprehend the attackers and protect the public.”
“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,” he tweeted.
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