RCMP has lifted the shelter-in-place alert for residents of Inuvik, Fort McPherson, and Tsiigehtchic in the Beaufort Delta region of the Northwest Territories after a threatening situation involving an active gunman on Saturday. Inuvik Mayor Peter Clarkson initially reported that the alert was issued in response to a shooting incident at the airport around 1 p.m. local time, resulting in a woman being hospitalized.
Several hours later, the RCMP announced the end of the emergency alert without providing further details. An updated alert issued in the early evening confirmed that residents could now safely leave their homes and return to normal activities. According to Clarkson, the suspect was apprehended on Highway 8 approximately an hour before the alert was lifted.
Clarkson later revealed that the injured woman is recovering in the hospital and that counseling services are being offered by the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority to support those affected by the incident. He highlighted the traumatic impact on individuals present at the airport during the shooting, urging them to seek assistance if needed.
During the alert, facilities and stores in the area were closed as a precaution. The advisory alert issued around 2 p.m. warned about a potentially armed individual possibly traveling in a burgundy or red Ford pickup truck. Residents of the three connected communities were advised to seek secure shelter, exercise caution in allowing entry to their homes, and avoid approaching suspicious individuals or picking up hitchhikers.
Clarkson mentioned the temporary closure of municipal facilities and most stores in Inuvik but emphasized the rarity of such incidents. He expressed confidence in the community’s ability to respond swiftly to emergencies to ensure everyone’s safety.
