Federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale granted a request from the RCMP for military aircraft to support the search for B.C. homicide suspects Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, who were last spotted in Gillam July 22.
“I received a request from RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki to provide assistance in the efforts to find the two suspects in these murders,” said Goodale in a July 26 statement. “On behalf of the government of Canada, the minister of national defence, the honourable Harjit Sajjan, and I have accepted the formal request for federal assistance, for a Canadian Armed Forces aircraft to aid in the search near Gillam, Manitoba.”
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), which represents 62 First Nations in Manitoba, said it approached the Bear Clan Patrol, a community-based safety patrol and crime prevention group which operates in Winnipeg, to offer its services to Fox Lake Cree Nation, York Factory First Nation and War Lake First Nation, which are all in the vicinity of Gillam. AMC said the Bear Clan Patrol was organizaing teams to fly to and conduct patrols in each of those communities.
“Today, as the RCMP is going door-to-door to ask questions, families need to feel a sense of support and security from their own people,” said AMC acting Grand Chief Sheldon Kent in a July 27 press release. “It is unfortunate that we do not have a strong First Nations police force in our Manitoba First Nations communities, which is due to the Manitoba government withholding adequate funding in recent years. Yet we are thankful for the Bear Clan Patrol, for their willingness to fill in this gap that the province created. The patrol groups will provide a sense of security to our First Nations communities that are now facing a great deal of uncertainty. As we roll out this strategy, we ask that all community members continue to cooperate with the RCMP. If anyone spots these two young men, please contact the RCMP right away – do not put yourself at risk. Keep your doors locked and your kids close.”
RCMP are going door-to-door seeking information in Gillam and Fox Lake Cree Nation over the weekend and asking anyone who may have inadvertently helped McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky leave the area to contact them with information.
McLeod and Schmegelsky are wanted in connection with the killings of Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese, found dead on the Alaska Highway in B.C. July 15, and have been charged with second-degree murder in the death Leonard Dyck of Vancouver, whose body was found south of Dease Lake, B.C. July 19. Dyck’s body was discovered about two kilometres from a burnt-out camper truck that McLeod and Schmegelsky had been driving when they left Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, ostensibly on the way to Alberta to look for work. Manitoba RCMP said July 25 that they believe McLeod and Schmegelsky are still in the Gillam area, based upon two confirmed sightings prior to the pair’s burnt vehicle being discovered in the area July 22 and the fact that no vehicles in the area have been reported stolen.
While the search for McLeod and Schmegelsky remains centred in Gillam, that police are not discounting the possibility the two may no longer be in the area, since there have been no new confirmed sightings in the past four days.
“Our investigators are also exploring the possibility that the suspects may have inadvertently received assistance in leaving the area,” Manitoba RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Julie Courchaine said at a July 26 press conference. “There have been no confirmed sightings outside of the Gillam area [since July 22], however we remain open to the possibility.”
The suspects may have changed their appearance, police say.
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), a political advocacy organization that represents about two dozen First Nations in Northern Manitoba, says the current situation shows the First Nations need funding to be able to provide their own policing services.
“While we appreciate the support of the RCMP during this time, it’s important to remind both the federal and provincial governments that the safety of our citizens is an ongoing concern for us,” said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee in a July 26 press release. “We urge governments to engage with MKO to explore avenues for proper policing services for MKO First Nations so our communities are better able to take leadership when it comes to emergencies in our communities.”
RCMP said checkstops at the intersection of Provincial Road 280 and Provincial Road 290 to Fox Lake and Gillam, respectively, will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
The search is being assisted by the RCMP’s emergency response team, crisis negotiation team and air services assets, as well as the major crime unit, the RCMP North District and RCMP officers from other provinces.
Anyone who spots McLeod and Schmegelsky should call Gillam RCMP at 204-652-2200, Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6911 or 911 or their local police in other areas.
