Police looking for another rifle connected to Killam suspect

RCMP are on the hunt for another weapon they say is connected to the man accused of attempting to kill two mounties.

Police said Friday that 25 officers are searching on foot for a 5.56-mm NATO semi-automatic rifle, also known as a Colt Law Enforcement Carbine. The search began on Tuesday.

The search area is southeast of Killam, not far from the farm house where two constables were shot in the torso Feb. 7. The officers were looking for a .45-calibre gun they believed was used to threaten someone in a domestic incident several days before.

Sgt. Patrick Webb told CBC News the semi-automatic rifle police are now looking for is registered to Sawyer Robison, the man charged with two counts of attempted murder. Robison was caught by police one week ago, just 15 kilometres from where the scene of the shooting.

On Tuesday, police found a .50 calibre sniper rifle inside Robison's abandoned Chevrolet Silverado truck near Killam. A loaded .50 calibre magazine was found near the truck by an RCMP dog team.

Webb told CBC News he could not say whether the 5.56-mm rifle police are looking for was used in the shooting.

The two mounties who were shot were recently released from hospital.

Robison is currently being held at the Edmonton Remand Centre and is scheduled to make his first court appearance next Tuesday.