Man arrested after shots fired in Kimmirut; 3rd violent incident in 3 days

Kimmirut RCMP have arrested a suspect in what is the third weapons-related incident reported over a three-day span in the hamlet.

“There is no indication at this time that the three incidents are related,” RCMP spokesperson Sgt. George Henrie said Friday.

RCMP announced Friday that a man was arrested Nov. 22 after officers investigated reports of multiple gunshots being fired in the community, starting at around 1:45 a.m.

About 15 minutes later, a suspect was taken into custody. RCMP say a shot was fired at a residence in the 90s block; no injuries were reported.

Joanasie Qimirqpik, 21, is charged with possession of a weapon for committing an offence and recklessly discharging a weapon. After a court appearance Monday, he was released and is scheduled to return to court in Kimmirut on Jan. 20.

In a separate incident also on Nov. 22, a suspect was arrested in Kimmirut following reports that a man had fired a rifle at an occupied vehicle at 11:18 p.m. The suspect was located at a residence and officers negotiated his surrender, RCMP said in a news release.

Prior to the shot being fired, one person was injured in a strangling incident in which police say the victim and accused were known to each other. The victim was also in the vehicle that was shot at but there were no injuries, Henrie said afterward.

In that incident, Brandon Atsiaq, 23, is charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon for committing an offence, assault by strangulation, assault, reckless use of a firearm and careless storage of a firearm.

He appeared in court this week in Iqaluit.

Two days before that, on Nov. 20, a 30-year-old man was arrested after RCMP in Kimmirut responded to a report of a man threatening people with a knife.

Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 90s block at around 9:24 p.m., RCMP said Friday in a news release. Soon after, police learned a man had arrived at the health centre with stab wounds.

The male victim suffered several lacerations and was medevaced to Iqaluit for medical care. He was reported to be in stable condition,” the release said.

After a bystander flagged down officers and told them what had happened, they located the suspect and arrested him.

Saimo Michael, 30, is charged with aggravated assault and two counts of assaulting a police officer. He is being held in custody and is scheduled to appear in court Monday in Iqaluit.