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Man charged in double homicide makes first court appearance

Suspect was arrested without incident at about 4 p.m. on Sept. 6 after police searched for him for a day

NIPAWIN - A man accused of killing two people and wounding a third person on James Smith Cree Nation made his first court appearance in Nipawin Circuit Court Wednesday.

Shawn Moostoos, 33, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and discharging a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Moostoos was remanded in custody and the matter was adjourned to Sept. 20 where he is expected to appear by CCTV.

Moostoos was arrested without incident at about 4 p.m. on Sept. 6 after police searched for him for a day.

According to Melfort RCMP, they responded to a shooting involving multiple victims on the James Smith First Nation the morning of Sept. 5.

Moostoos, the alleged suspect, had fled the scene and police released his photo when they issued an emergency alert warning the public to shelter in place, not to leave their secure location, stay away from windows, and not to answer their door unless police provided them direction to do so.

Police confirmed that a 37-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were deceased but didn’t release their names. A 44-year-old man was taken to the hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries.

RCMP say Moostoos and the three victims were known to each other.

The charges against Moostoos haven’t been proven in court.

James Smith Cree Nation is north of Melfort.