Lynn Lau & Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Fort Franklin (July 30/01) - Three men are dead after a shooting in Deline Sunday morning.

Dead are Ryan Tetso, 26, Brian Kenny, 25, and Jack Betsidea, 22.

Police said Betsidea shot Tetso and Kenny at about 8 a.m. Sunday after he got into a confrontation with others at a party.

He had left the residence, only to return with a hunting rifle and shoot the two.

"Betsidea then engaged the RCMP officers who were attempting to respond to the incident," said a press release from police. "One shot was fired at the detachment office."

Betsidea then turned the gun on himself and took his own life.

A relative of one of the victims said the shooter was distraught about a relationship.

Members of the RCMP Major Crimes Unit and police from Inuvik travelled to Deline to help in the investigation. A member of the Chief Coroner's Office also travelled to Deline.

The bodies of the three men have been taken to Edmonton for an autopsy.