Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Friday, February 9, 2007

FORT LIARD -Charges have been laid after a shooting in Fort Liard on Feb. 2.

Troy Wilford Fantasque, 23, of Fort Liard has been charged with attempted murder and has been remanded into custody, according to a press release from the RCMP.

The victim of the shooting, Derwin Kotchea, also of Fort Liard, is still receiving medical treatment in Edmonton. Kotchea was medevaced to Edmonton with a gunshot wound following the shooting.

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 Kotchea, who had been shot, said Sgt. Larry O'Brien, spokesperson for RCMP G Division.

"They're serious injuries," said O'Brien on Feb. 2.

Police searched for the shooting suspect who had fled the residence before the RCMP arrived. Between five and 10 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 around 6 a.m. and surrendered to police without incident, said O'Brien.

Police say the suspect arrived at his own home around 3 a.m. to find another man there. A quarrel ensued and Kotchea was shot, O'Brien said.

Alcohol is not suspected to be a factor, said O'Brien.