RCMP charge man with first-degree murder in Rankin Inlet
Charge follows police search for gunman last Friday; mental health outreach organized in the community
RCMP say a 43-year-old man is charged with first-degree murder in Rankin Inlet after what police called a “suspicious” death last Friday. (File photo)
A 43-year-old man is charged with first-degree murder in connection with an incident in Rankin Inlet last Friday where residents were advised to shelter in place while RCMP searched for a man carrying a gun.
RCMP announced the charge Monday afternoon in a news release but did not identify the victim when asked. Police did not release the age or sex of the victim, or the cause of death.
Officers discovered a body at about 1 a.m. Friday and considered the death “suspicious in nature,” according to RCMP. They identified a suspect and began searching for him.
At around 3 a.m., RCMP posted on Facebook, asking people in Rankin Inlet to remain indoors during the search and later advised them to stay away from the area near the firing range.
In Monday’s news release, RCMP said the suspect was located near the firing range but that he refused to surrender to police at first.
RCMP crisis negotiators were able to “establish communications” with the suspect, who surrendered without incident at around 10:30 a.m. Friday, according to the release.
RCMP say Jack Ekwalak, 43, was charged with first-degree murder.
A post on a Rankin Inlet Facebook page Monday afternoon encouraged residents who feel they need to “debrief after this past weekend’s incident” to meet with mental health outreach workers at the Sinik Hotel.
It also provided phone numbers people could call to speak with counsellors.
To all our friends in Rankin Inlet, Helen and I miss you all and pray you can get past this tragedy quickly.
Time for serious healing our friends.
I noticed housing workers miss use there trucks . Seen them driving around with there family members inside , they use them to go to the store. And manger don’t do anything because they are buddies.
This is the story for every ‘corporate’ vehicle in Nunavut. We all know this and we all know it will not change anytime soon.
I realize Nunavut is a number of decades behind in law enforcement and courts but please catch up to the rest of Canada and implement Criminal Record Checks for ALL job applicants.
Can’t do the time? Don’t do the crime.
Not fair to law abiding citizens fearing for themselves working next to an ex-con prone to violence and intimidation.
Realistically, if employers did adhere to requiring a clean criminal record then a lot of positions would be unfilled. Check out the court docket for any town and you will pages of offenders every couple of months. Same goes for drug testing for workers who probably should be tested. Best to close your eyes and not wonder too much what the school bus or water truck driver ingested with their morning coffee.