by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 12/97) - RCMP seized 15 dangerous weapons including a semi-automatic gun early Saturday morning following what they suspect to be a drug-related gang fight.

Ten or 11 men were involved in the brawl on School Draw Avenue that police believe to be the most violent gang fight in Yellowknife's history.

"It's the most serious fight I've ever heard about here," said Staff Sgt. Dave Grundy.

When police arrived around 3:30 a.m. Saturday the men -- age 19 to 27 -- were on the street, several bleeding from cuts on their face and hands.

Grundy said the suspects received medical attention for minor injuries at the Stanton Hospital, where police had to break-up a second fight.

Police seized weapons including a loaded rifle with two 32-shot clips, a knife with a four-inch blade, a sledgehammer, an axe, a taser gun (a prohibited weapon that delivers electric shocks), and baseball bats.

The weapons were on the ground when police arrived so they weren't able to identify the owners.

Two vehicles in the area were substantially damaged, believed by police to have happened during the fight.

Grundy said that the incident has serious implications and reveals a lot about what is happening in the city.

"The mere fact that someone brought a loaded gun to a fight, shows that it goes beyond a street fight," he said. "We're getting reports all the time about people that are getting beaten up, but nothing to this degree where they've brought loaded guns."

Police are still investigating and charges are pending on several men involved.