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RCMP have cancelled a shelter-in-place alert for residents of Inuvik, Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic in the Northwest Territories’ Beaufort Delta region who had been told to stay inside Saturday due to an active gunman threat.
Inuvik Mayor Peter Clarkson said earlier that the alert was issued following reports a woman was shot at the airport around 1 p.m. local time and taken to the hospital.
A few hours later, RCMP said the emergency alert had ended, but didn’t elaborate.
“It is now safe for residents to leave their homes and resume normal activities,” the updated alert issued in the early evening said.
CBC has emailed the mayor, and emailed and called the RCMP, for more details on the apparent shooting and cancellation of the alert. We will update this story with any response.
In the meantime, Cabin Radio, a media organization based in Yellowknife, is reporting a suspect in the airport shooting has been apprehended, leading to cancellation of the alert.
Facilities, stores shut during alert
The dangerous person advisory alert posted around 2 p.m. had said an armed man may have been travelling in a burgundy or red Ford pickup truck.
It urged people in those three N.W.T. communities connected by Highway 8 to shelter in a secure location and be cautious about letting people into their homes. It also warned people to not approach anyone suspicious or pick up hitchhikers.
The mayor said the whereabouts of the alleged shooter was unknown.
“The RCMP were coming from Inuvik and the person wasn’t seen. I think they’re pursuing whether he went down the highway,” said Clarkson at the time.
He said municipal facilities and most of Inuvik’s store had shut down.
“Until we hear from the RCMP that things are safe to open up again, we’re asking people to shelter in place for their own safety. As soon as we hear the shooter isn’t in Inuvik or has been captured, then we’ll lift that.”
