Killing of beloved dog may have triggered outburst

A dangerous confrontation in Iqaluit between police and a distraught gunman ended without bloodshed July 8 after the man surrendered following an 11-hour shutdown of the city's downtown core.

The sound of sporadic gun fire – produced by police and a man holed up inside house 679D, a rowhouse unit at the foot of Astro Hill – echoed throughout downtown Iqaluit between about 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday morning.

After a long wait that didn't end until 7:30 in the evening, the man surrendered to police after many hours of negotiation, mostly by telephone. No one was injured.

Sources suggested the man may have been enraged over the killing of a beloved dog. A bullet-spattered first-floor window at House 679D still displays a red sign saying "Beware of Dog" – but there is no dog in sight.

One neighbour said he heard the sound of two diffferent types of weapons. Right now it's not clear who fired the greatest number of shots: the barricaded man or the heavily-armed police officers who returned fire.

Police and municipal bylaw officers sealed off most of central Iqaluit by about 8:30 a.m., disrupting morning church services at the Anglican Parish Hall and blocking access to the Northmart store, which closed for much of the day.

A large group of 15 to 20 teenagers, who appeared to have been out all night, added to the confusion that morning when they gathered near Nakasuk School at around 8 a.m., attracted by the sound of gunfire.

Police, who say some of the teens appeared to be intoxicated, chased them out of harm's way. Many of them gathered on the steps of the Northwestel building before dispersing.

Around the same time, a pick-up truck loaded with teens drinking canned beer sped along the beach road, also attracted by the commotion.

For much of the day, curious residents equipped with binoculars stood on hill-tops and balconies, straining to catch a glimpse of house 679D.

By mid-morning, the sound of gunfire stopped and police appeared to have all neighbourhoods surrounding the house under tight control. They evacuated residents from nearby units, including the green rowhousing area and some apartment units in the eight-story high rise, and kept vehicles and pedestrians out of the area.

Some RCMP members equipped with helmets, assault rifles and body armour took up positions near the row house unit from which the man was firing. Others maintained roadblocks or patrolled areas such as the back of the high-rise complex and entrances to the 600-block of housing units.

Cpl. Jimmy Akavak said about 20 RCMP members, along with Iqaluit bylaw officers and citizen volunteers, helped defuse the emergency.

Some of the volunteers helped prepare meals for RCMP members, many of whom spent long hours stationed at various points around central Iqaluit.

"It's really good when the community can pull together like that," Akavak said of the help extended by the volunteers. "It took a lot of pressure off our staff so they could concentrate on keeping people safe."

Akavak said a "concerned neighbour" called police at about 6 a.m. Sunday to report the man. After the man was arrested in the evening, residents gathered in front of house 679D to gawk at its broken, bullet-spattered windows and gossip about the day's events.

Kevin Joseph Tikivik, 25, of Iqaluit, was to have appeared in court this week for a show-cause hearing. He faces four criminal charges: discharging a firearm, pointing a firearm, using a firearm while committing an offence and careless use of a firearm.

Sources describe Tikivik, who owns a guiding and outfitting business, as a well-respected young man not known for getting into trouble. Last year, he worked as a trainee court worker at Maliganik Tukisiniakvik.

This is the second serious firearms incident that police have dealt with in Iqaluit in less than a week, and Nunavut's third in just two weeks.

On the evening of July 3, police seized a firearm from a young Iqaluit man who was demonstrating its use to a group of about 15 teens and young adults gathered at the basketball court in front of Nakasuk School.

Akavak said the weapon was a small-calibre rifle with a sawed-off barrel. He said the man was not attempting to shoot anyone, but was firing into the air to show off.

In connection with that incident, Joanasie Naulaq, 22, of Iqaluit, has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 14 to face four firearms-related charges.

And on June 26 in Pangnirtung, police laid six criminal charges against a Pangnirtung resident in connection with a shooting incident there.

Mosessee Duval, 31, is charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, use of a firearm while committing an indictable offence, common assault, mischief, causing a disturbance, and careless use of a firearm.

Duval appeared in court June 29 in Iqaluit.

With files from Jane George and Chris Windeyer.