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Nipisa Street in Iqaluit was blocked most of the day Wednesday after an early morning shootout sent two men to hospital with gunshot wounds. One, the suspect, was found bleeding from his chest, while the other had non-life-threatening injuries. - Casey Lessard/NNSL photo

IQALUIT
A male suspect was shot in the chest and another man was hit by a stray bullet after police responded to reports of gunshots early Nov. 23 in Iqaluit.

The suspect was in critical condition, while the second man's injuries were non-life-threatening, police said.

Police were called to the city's 100 block after a report of shots being fired. They arrived to find a man pointing a gun at them, shots were fired and then he fled the scene, a press release stated.

The suspect was found bleeding from the chest near House 238, and was taken to Qikiqtani General Hospital, where he was in stable but critical condition Wednesday.

His condition has not been updated since the RCMP handed over the investigation to outside police forces, as per policy whenever police are involved in shooting incidents.

The Ottawa Police Service Major Crime Unit's Detective John Monette arrived Wednesday to lead an investigation team from the NWT.

The house remained roped off and guarded by a running unmarked white SUV Thursday night.

Valerie Bossi, manager of nearby diner The Snack, heard two bangs early Wednesday morning and went to the window to check it out. That's when she saw police run by chasing a man, and she realized those bangs were gunshots.

"I heard a 'pow, pow' outside, so I thought it was someone knocking on the window because it happens a lot of times during the night," Bossi said. "But when I went to see, I saw the policemen running with guns in their hands.

"They put the truck right here and they ran out right away to the green house (across the street, beside Arctic Survival Store). They went around the house, and then after to the next building. Another RCMP truck came and put the police line across. I saw the police turn around and an ambulance came without its lights on."

In all, she heard at least three shots.

"I heard the first ones and ran to the window. It was pow (pauses a few seconds) then pow. Within two minutes I saw the RCMP outside. Then later another pow."

Detective John Monette arrived Wednesday to lead an investigation team from the NWT.

While those police officers do their work, business is back to normal on Nipisa Street, which was blocked for more than 10 hours Wednesday. But it has made Bossi rethink her instinct to run to the window when she hears loud bangs at night.

"My boss said, when it happens again, get under the counter," she said.

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