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ABC News
National
Tom Williams, with wires

A Canada stabbing suspect is dead, but his brother is still on the run. Here's what we know

Police in Canada say one of the suspects in the killings of 10 people has been found dead, but his brother — who is the other suspect — is still on the run.

It comes after a series of stabbings in an Indigenous community and a nearby town, which led to a massive manhunt for the perpetrators of one of the deadliest attacks in Canada's history.

As the search prepares to enter its third day, let's take a look at what we know about the manhunt, the suspects and the stabbings.

What's the latest on the search for the suspects?

The suspects are two brothers: 31-year-old Damien Sanderson and 30-year-old Myles Sanderson.

Police have been searching for them since the stabbing attacks on Sunday in the province of Saskatchewan, where 10 people were killed and another 18 were injured.

Authorities say the elder brother, Damien, was found dead on Monday on an Aboriginal reserve belonging to the James Smith Cree Nation, not far from the sites of the stabbings.

Police said Damien had visible injuries that they didn't believe were self-inflicted, and they had "strong reason to believe" that his younger brother, Myles — who remains at large — had also sustained some injuries.

Officers believe Myles is somewhere in Regina, the capital city of Saskatchewan, about 335 kilometres south of where the stabbings took place, and warned the public that he may be seeking medical attention.

Authorities have issued alerts in Canada's three vast prairie provinces as part of their manhunt — that includes the adjacent provinces of Manitoba and Alberta — and have contacted US border officials.

On Tuesday, Canadian police officers surrounded a home with guns drawn on an Indigenous reserve where the stabbing rampage took place. 

Police sent an emergency alert to phones asking people on the James Smith Cree First Nation reserve to stay inside. Witnesses said people ran screaming as police shut down roads.

Later on Tuesday, an official familiar with the matter said it appeared to be a false alarm. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.

It's not clear if the suspect, Myles Sanderson, was ever in the area. 

Have any suspects been charged yet?

Yes. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have already charged both brothers with first-degree murder.

Rhonda Blackmore, commanding officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP, said police had not confirmed if Myles was believed to have killed his brother.

"We can't say one way or the other if Myles was involved in the death of Damien," she said.

She also warned that police still considered Myles a danger to the public, even if he was injured.

"Myles has a lengthy criminal record involving both persons and property crimes … We consider him armed and dangerous. Do not approach him," Ms Blackmore said.

With the death of one Sanderson brother and the injury to the other, the casualty count now stood at 11 dead and 19 injured, Ms Blackmore said.

Canada stabbing case suspect found dead

Where did the stabbings take place?

Police say they received their first call about a stabbing at 5:40am on Sunday, and heard about several more soon after.

Dead or wounded people were then found at 13 different locations in Saskatchewan, on the sparsely populated James Smith Cree Nation and in the town of Weldon about 30 kilometres away.

Amid the ongoing manhunt, police also issued a province-wide alert for suspects in a shooting on the Witchekan Lake First Nation.

Officials said the shooting was not believed to be connected to the stabbings, but such alerts are unusual.

What was the motive for the stabbings?

Authorities said some of the stabbing victims were targeted and others appeared to have been chosen at random.

Police haven't provided a motive, but the chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations suggested the stabbings could be drug-related.

"This is the destruction we face when harmful illegal drugs invade our communities, and we demand all authorities to take direction from the chiefs and councils and their memberships to create safer and healthier communities for our people," said Chief Bobby Cameron.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the attacks "shocking and heartbreaking" and said he had spoken to the leadership of the James Smith Cree Nation and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe to pledge his government's support.

He also said the flag above the country's parliament building in Ottawa would be flown at half-mast to honour the victims.

"Sadly, over these past years, tragedies like these have become all-too-commonplace," he said.

"Saskatchewanians and Canadians will do what we always do in times of difficulty and anguish: We will be there for each other."

Justin Trudeau condemns "shocking and heartbreaking" Saskatchewan stabbing attacks.

ABC/wires

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