RCMP still searching for suspect in Fort Smith, N.W.T., suspicious death

A shelter in place order has been lifted in Forth Smith, N.W.T., but a large police presence will remain as officers search for a potentially armedsuspect in theirinvestigation into a suspicious death, RCMP say.

The shelter in place order was enacted Friday morning whena person was found deadin the town of 2,500, after police respondedto reports of shots fired.

It has since been lifted, butRCMPsay the suspectis still at large.

Insp. Barry LaRocque, the officer in charge of the N.W.T. south district RCMP, said Saturday officers do not know if the suspect has firearms.

He told CBC News about 25 RCMP officers, including some from Hay River and Yellowknife, are looking for oneindividual, but that thereis the possibilitymore people could be involved.

There were multiplefirearm-related reports overnight on Thursday and officers are investigating to see whether they are connected to the suspicious death, he said.

LaRocque saida cause of death hasn't beenreleased for the individual who diedon Friday.

The person was found insidea residence in Fort Smith, LaRocque said, butit's unclear if the individual was inside or outside the house at the time of death.

"There has been a number of break and enters reported to the RCMP," he said,including one at the territorial government Department of Lands office building, and officers are investigating to see if the incidents are connected.

LaRocque said the suspect stole a white 2019 Ford Explorer with an N.W.T. government logo on its side,but that vehicle has since been recovered by police.

Salt River First Nation Chief David Poitrastold CBC News Saturday morninghe heardpolice may put a checkpoint in place on Highway 5, butLaRocque said no checkpoint has been set up there so far. Police would alert the public if one does go up, he said.

Police operation in Fort Smith

A resident in Fort Smith about 300 kilometres southeast of Yellowknife, near the Alberta bordersaid there waspolice activity around Calder Avenue on Friday night, but that had cleared by around11:30 p.m.

William-John McNeill said he was outside his homebuilding a deck at around 11 a.m. on Friday, when he saw a police car "come screeching to a halt."

Ronnie Schaefer, another Fort Smith resident, said RCMP had closed off Field Street around Calder Avenue Friday afternoon with barricades and spikes. He said he saw officers in tactical gear as well.

The only interaction McNeill had with police was when an officer shouted for him to go inside.

He said he remained inside for most of the day, but went outside later in the evening for a cigarette and saw police activity.

McNeill captured a video of the interaction around 10 p.m., where officers could be heard demandinganyoneinside a buildingcome out.

"That's when the police were saying to any occupants in the building 'come out, wear only one layer of clothing. No jacket, walk backwards to us,'" he said.

McNeill said about an hour later, police left the area.

Several facilities in the town closed on Friday, including the Northern Store, the Recreation and Community Centre, the arena and the library.

The Northern Store reopened on Saturday.

On Friday morning, resident Isabel Lehman said the situation was very concerning.

"It's not a comfortable feeling, if whoever has done this hasn't been apprehended, then gee whiz, how safe are we?" she said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Fort Smith RCMP at 872-1111 or Crime Stoppers at www.p3tips.com.