Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (June 06/05) - The Kivalliq region is in shock following the accidental shooting death of a seven-year-old boy in Rankin Inlet this past week.

Jobie Kadlak had been missing for about two days when the call went out by local radio on June 1 for residents to check their cabins, under their homes and around their property.

Later that day the boy's body was discovered outside by the owner of a hunting cabin close to the community.

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cpl. Mike Lokken of the Rankin RCMP said the body was flown to Winnipeg where an autopsy was performed on Saturday, June 4.

Lokken said the autopsy confirmed Kadlak died as the result of a gunshot wound.

"The RCMP and the coroner's office are treating the death as accidental," said Lokken. "Jobie (Kadlak) and another youth were playing together near a hunting cabin at the edge of town when they were able to gain access to a firearm and ammunition that were inside the cabin."

Apparently the two youth proceeded to load a weapon and take it outside to fire when at some point Kadlak was accidentally shot.

RCMP are continuing to investigate the manner in which the firearm and ammunition were stored at the cabin.

The Rankin detachment was aided in its investigation by members of Iqaluit's V Division major crime unit and forensic identification section.

Weapons seized

Cpl. Lokken said the RCMP have seized a number of weapons from the cabin near where Kadlak's body was found.

"It's still unknown whether there will be any charges filed in connection to the way the firearms and ammunition were stored, but it is something that's being contemplated," Lokken said. "It doesn't appear a lot of effort was used by the two boys to gain access to the cabin."