At least one suspect still at large after report of shots fired in Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T., police say

RCMP say they've taken "a list of individuals" into custody but at to the lowest degree single remains owing(p) after a cover of shots fired in in the community of Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T., on Friday.

Officers have also contained several residences in the community, police said in a news release issued at around 4 p.m. Local time.

A check stop has been set up on the access road to Behchokǫ̀ and people should expect delays when travelling to the community. The release said.

"Non-essential travel should be postponed."

A-shelter-in-place order remains in effect for the community, RCMP said.

Chief Jimmy Bruneau School and Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School remain on lockdown, according to social media posts from the schools posted Friday afternoon.

Students will not be released at the end of the school day, and school buses will not be running, the posts said.

"All students are safe inside with our staff," read a post on the Chief Jimmy Bruneau School page.

"When we are given the 'all clear,' we will begin a safe dismissal process."

RCMP said earlier Friday they were searching for five or six individuals believed to be armed with long guns travelling on two snowmobiles, one of which is orange.

"Additional police resources have been deployed to the community, and an increased police presence will be visible," they said in a news release issued at around 12:30 p.m.

"Do not post or otherwise communicate police locations in the community."

They would not provide more details, such as the exact number of officers, citing concerns about safety and the effectiveness of the response.

Police are asking anyone with CCTV or other footage in the area of Godliwa Tili that may have captured the incident or the suspects to contact the Behchokǫ̀ RCMP at 867-392-1111.

No injuries have been reported to police, and RCMP said they believe the incident was a targeted attack.

Behchokǫ̀ Chief Bertha Rabesca-Zoe posted a notice on Facebook asking residents to refrain from posting videos or pictures of the RCMP.

"Let them do their job," she wrote.

"Don’t give away their location. Stay indoors, lock your doors and stay calm."

Chief Jimmy Bruneau School and Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School announced earlier in the day that students would not be sent home for lunch and would receive meals at school.

The post urged people not to come to the school.

"The doors are locked and will not be opened under any circumstances until the lockdown is officially cleared by the RCMP. We understand this can be a stressful situation, but please be assured that your children are safe and we are strictly following our emergency protocols."

The Tłı̨chǫ government also posted to social media asking parents not to come to daycares in the community, saying doors will not be opened until RCMP clear the lockdown.

"All children are safe inside with our staff," the post read.

"Please do not come to pick up your children until the lockdown has lifted."

Behchokǫ̀ resident and former chief Clifford Daniels said the morning started normally for him but then his son received a message, and he began receiving calls.

“It just gradually, I guess, developed that … this is not a drill,” he said.

“And we also got an alert on our phones, which we knew was serious.”

Behchokǫ̀ has been under lockdown before, but this incident seems more urgent, Daniels said.

“It seems this time, it's not just an individual or two; it's more … and I'm pretty sure there's probably parents and families out there who are wondering if it's their friends or relatives involved in this. And yeah … you know, hearing that there's gunshots involved in that. So it's getting really serious.” 

Daniels said he expects it to be a long day before the community gets answers.

The community of about 2,000 people is located about 100 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife.

Reporter

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