Mounties in stable condition after shooting near Killam
Posted Feb 8, 2012 8:05 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Two RCMP officers continue to recover in Edmonton hospitals after being shot and wounded in the line of duty outside of Killam, Alberta.
It began as the two policemen were executing a search warrant Tuesday afternoon, looking for a .45 calibre handgun.
Gunfire then rang out from the rural residence along Highway 13, injuring the two men; both were reportedly hit in the torso.
The men were flown for emergency surgery to separate hospitals in the provincial capital and have been listed in stable condition.
One of the officers has been identified as Cst. Sid Gaudette, a veteran of five years, while The Calgary Sun reports the other is Cst. Sheldon Shaw who’s been with the force for two years.
RCMP Sgt. Patrick Webb says Highway 13 remains cordoned off; officers have the home surrounded, but have not attempted entry.
“The residence itself, which is about 10 kilometres southeast of Killam, we still have containment on that,” he says. “We’re trying to get contact with people inside that residence.”
There are reports that one suspect died at the scene; Webb says he’s heard the rumours of a second suspect but was unable to comment on any persons of interest out of fear it may put officers at further risk.
He adds it’s too soon to tell how long it may take and adds they have time on their side and will wait to make sure it’s safe first.
Webb echoed RCMP Chief Superintendent Rick Taylor’s comments from late Tuesday night that residents in and around Killam have nothing to be concerned about.
“We’re obviously still investigating more but we believe there is no danger to the public,” says Webb.
Despite these public assurances, one woman tells 660News residents are on edge about a possible second shooter.
“If he’s harmed, even if he wasn’t… he’s going to look for a place to hide,” she says. “Whether it’s around here or not, I don’t know.”
The woman, who didn’t want to be identified, says she’s lived and worked in the town for four years and describes it as a close-knit community.
“Roughly 1,200 population, we have our odd little drug busts but that’s in any town,” she says.
Owner of the Wagon Wheel Motel, Adele Clark, tells 660News she knows one of the officers and describes him as a nice and personable young man.
“We know a lot of the officers in town and stuff,” says Clark. “People are just waiting and hoping that everyone involved is alright.”
She says residents in the town have not been told much about what’s happening and are getting their information from news broadcasts.
Tuesday’s shooting has been a haunting reminder for those involved in the tragedy in Mayerthorpe that rocked Alberta seven years ago.
A former Mountie in Mayerthorpe, who’s now the mayor, tells The Calgary Sun he’s frustrated, saying no one should have to go through this again.
In 2005, four Mounties were gunned down at a farm near Mayerthorpe by James Roszko who later took his own life.
Retired commander and current Mayor Kim Connell also responded to reports this latest incident was spurred by domestic violence, saying these kinds of calls can be the most explosive.
