Mounties offer details about deadly break-and-enter near Esterhazy

The RCMP provided some new details Monday on the deadly home invasion south of Esterhazy.

In a media release, the Mounties said the man who was shot and killed in the break-and-enter Friday was a 34-year-old resident of the RM of Fertile Belt. His name wasn’t released.

As well, the RCMP said a woman who had been hurt in the incident had been released from hospital.

The Mounties said they were following up on multiple tips they received after releasing composite sketches of the three suspects on Sunday. However, police didn’t have any more information to provide about descriptions or identities of the suspects.

“The investigation is ongoing: This includes investigators conducting interviews, and collecting and analyzing evidence and surveillance footage,” the RCMP release said.

The Mounties also offered an explanation as to why they didn’t issue an emergency alert in the wake of the incident.

The RCMP said the decision to issue an alert differs by situation.

“Generally speaking, investigators will consider if there is an imminent ability, intent and means for someone to cause serious/significant bodily harm or death to others,” the release said.

“We also must provide instructions for the public to act upon (example: shelter in place). These considerations and discussions are fluid and ongoing during the course of an investigation and unfolding incident. Reassessments occur on an ongoing basis as circumstances change and investigations continue.”

In this case, the RCMP said, there wasn’t any specific information available about the suspects or the getaway vehicle.

“Given these factors, we have to consider: Where would an emergency alert be issued and what would we ask the public to look for?” the Mounties said.

“Police officers physically attended individual residences in the vicinity of this incident shortly after it occurred to confirm the wellbeing of others in the area and notify them about the incident.”

The RCMP reminded members of the public to report information about the incident by calling 310-RCMP or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

According to police, three men broke into a home about 20 kilometres south of the communities of Stockholm and Esterhazy, and police were called just after 4 a.m.

The three suspects stole guns and ammunition from the home, the RCMP said, before stealing the homeowner’s vehicle and taking off. That vehicle was found burning and abandoned on a nearby grid road.

Stockholm residents on high alert: Mayor

The incident Friday has made residents of the area wary, Stockholm Mayor Jason Nichols said Monday.

But he noted that while some people are alert, he hasn’t heard any big concerns.

“I think people are taking more precautions but nothing’s really changed. Nobody has really come out and said that they are terribly concerned, but obviously people are a little bit on alert,” Nichols said.

He explained it’s hard to believe that a crime like this happened so close to the community.

“(When) you live in a small community, you don’t really expect it to happen,” Nichols said.

He believes people are being cautious and dealing with it in a calm way.

Some members of the community have also been asking the question as to why there was no emergency alert issued.

While 980 CJME’s Shane Clausing was in the community of Bird’s Point on Friday, he heard from residents who were upset the alert wasn’t issued by the RCMP.

Nichols explained he wasn’t concerned about the lack of information initially provided by the RCMP.

“I think they are doing their job. Instead of trying to raise concern, they put out a couple of bulletins to stay alert but I don’t think they want to create a panic either,” he said.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Lindsay Newman