Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Monday, February 5, 2007

FORT LIARD - A Fort Liard resident has been medevaced to Edmonton with a gunshot wound following a shooting in the community.

At approximately 3 a.m. on Feb. 2, members of the Fort Liard RCMP detachment responded to complaints of shots fired in a house. Arriving at the residence, where the complaints came from, they found a local man who'd been shot, said Sgt. Larry O'Brien, with media relations for the G Division.

"They're serious injuries," said O'Brien.

A search was initiated for the suspect in the shooting who had fled the residence before the RCMP arrived. Between five to ten RCMP officers from Yellowknife including members of the emergency response team, major crime investigators, the police service dog Lasse and his handler were sent to the community to assist, said O'Brien. Lasse is trained in tracking.

"The police service dog works hand in hand with the emergency response team especially in a situation like this where we've got a suspect who's fled the scene and there may be a requirement to search," he said.

The suspect was located at another residence in the community at approximately 6 a.m. and surrendered himself to arrest without incident, said O'Brien.

O'Brien said the RCMP know the suspect arrived at his house around 3 a.m. to find another man there. A quarrel ensued and the victim was shot.

At this time alcohol is not suspected to be a factor, said O'Brien. No charges have been laid yet. The names of the victim and the suspect have not been released.