Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 08/05) - The death of a seven-year-old boy in Rankin Inlet this past week has been ruled accidental by the local detachment of the RCMP.

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

The search was called off by the RCMP later that evening when the boy's body was discovered outside by the owner of a hunting cabin close to the community.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cpl. Mike Lokken of the Rankin detachment of the RCMP said the seven-year-old's body was flown to Winnipeg, where an autopsy was performed this past Saturday, June 4.

Lokken said the autopsy confirmed Kadlak died as the result of a single 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."

The two youth proceeded to load a weapon and take it outside to fire when Kadlak was accidentally shot by his friend, according to police.

Lokken said the accidental shooting actually took place on Tuesday, May 31.

He could not explain why the youth who fired the shot didn't tell anyone about the accident.

A crisis-intervention team was available to students and staff at Leo Ussak elementary school this past week and social services workers have been helping the families involved cope with the tragedy.

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

The Rankin RCMP were aided in the investigation by members of Iqaluit's V Division major crime unit and forensic identification section.

Seized weapons

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.

"It doesn't appear a lot of effort was used by the two boys to gain access to the cabin."