Almost nine hours after RCMP responded to a report of shots fired in Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T., they now say residents are free to return to normal activity.
Police lifted a shelter-in-place order that had been in place all of Friday afternoon and into the evening.
“While the order has been lifted and several individuals have been arrested, the investigation is continuing. An increased police presence will continue to be visible in the community. However, the RCMP has reasonable grounds to believe that this was a targeted attack,” police said in a news release Friday at 8:30 p.m.
Residents are asked to remain vigilant for suspicious activity and to report any information to the Behchokǫ̀ RCMP.
On Friday afternoon, police had said they believed at least one person was still at large. But in their evening press release, they said based on “further investigation and a thorough risk assessment,” the community was safe.
Police have taken the step of providing a website where community members can submit video, photo or any digital evidence.
RCMP said earlier Friday they were searching for five or six individuals believed to be armed with long guns travelling on two snowmobiles. No injuries were reported to police.
Earlier in the day, RCMP said they had “contained” several residences in the community.
A check stop had been set up on the access road to Behchokǫ̀ and non-essential travel discouraged.
Chief Jimmy Bruneau School and Elizabeth Mackenzie Elementary School were both on lockdown all afternoon and into the evening, but parents and guardians were told after 8 p.m. that they could pick up their children. School buses were going to bring students home as usual, but parents were told to expect delays.
In Facebook posts, both schools said staff would remain with students until they were picked up or transported by bus.
Students were not dismissed at the end of the day, but they were reported safe and doing well, according to identical posts on both schools’ Facebook pages.
“The children are in great spirits. We are keeping them entertained, and they are currently having fun and staying occupied,” the posts said.
“Snacks and food are being distributed, so no one is going hungry…. All of our dedicated staff members have stayed with the students to supervise, comfort and ensure the safety of every single child.”
The Tłı̨chǫ government had also posted to social media asking parents not to come to daycares in the community, saying doors would not be opened until RCMP clear the lockdown.
“All children are safe inside with our staff,” the post read. “Please do not come to pick up your children until the lockdown has lifted.”
RCMP said in a news release earlier Friday afternoon that additional police resources had been deployed to the community.
“Do not post or otherwise communicate police locations in the community,” they asked the public.
The additional resources included specialty units and a critical incident commander, police told CBC.
They would not provide more details, such as the exact number of officers, citing concerns about safety and the effectiveness of the response.
‘Keep a lookout for each other’
The community of about 2,000 people is located approximately 100 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife.
Behchokǫ̀ Chief Bertha Rabesca-Zoe, who was on her way back to Behchokǫ̀ from Toronto on Friday, told CBC she was sorry to not be with the people in her community.
“Please keep a look-out for each other as always,” she said.
“And many blessings to everybody. And my prayers and thoughts are with each and every one of you today.”
Behchokǫ̀ resident and former chief Clifford Daniels said the morning started normally for him but then his son received a message, and he began receiving calls.
“It just gradually, I guess, developed that … this is not a drill,” he said.
“And we also got an alert on our phones, which we knew was serious.”
Behchokǫ̀ has been under lockdown before, but this incident seemed more urgent, Daniels said.
“It seems this time, it’s not just an individual or two; it’s more … and I’m pretty sure there’s probably parents and families out there who are wondering if it’s their friends or relatives involved in this. And yeah … you know, hearing that there’s gunshots involved in that. So it’s getting really serious.”
Daniels said he expected a long day before the community could get answers.
RCMP did not say if the arrested individuals have been charged.
“The RCMP would like to thank community members and the community leadership for their cooperation and patience throughout this incident.”
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