Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Monday, July 23, 2007

FORT GOOD HOPE - An 18-year-old man has been charged in connection with a violent home invasion, which happened early July 16 in Fort Good Hope.

Residents say Alexis Taureau, 18, was recently released from jail, and had a reputation has a dangerous and unstable character.

"The Friday before he did this, he was walking around town with an axe," said Nicole Manuel, 21, a niece of the victims.

One elderly man, Thomas Manuel Sr, was shot in the chest during the incident. Some buckshot was also lodged in his face and near his eyes.

As of press time, Manuel had been sent to Edmonton for surgery.

Doctors were scheduled to operate on his eye, cheekbone, jaw, neck and chest, to remove buckshot pellets.

Manuel's wife, Denise Manuel, was also injured during the invasion.

It is believed she might have cut her arms and back while trying to escape the house through a broken window.

She is at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife receiving medical help.

Three of the Manuel couple's grandchildren are said to have been in the house when the invasion happened, but were not injured.

"We're just trying to deal with it, there's been no news, there's no update yet" said niece Nicole Manuel on July 19.

According to RCMP, Taureau, was arrested shortly after the incident.

It is unknown why he was in the Manuel's house, or what prompted the incident.

Taureau was charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and break and enter, as well as other weapons related charges.

He was expected to make an appearance in Yellowknife court on July 18.

Fort Good Hope RCMP declined any further comment, saying the event is still being investigated.