What is being described as a shootout on Cumberland House Cree Nation Thursday ended with one man dead, and four people being taken into custody.  

RCMP reported they received information about a man who was wanted for assaulting a police officer. Police arrived on the scene on Cumberland House Cree Nation and found a man with a firearm. Additional officers were requested, and the Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene, and a civil emergency alert was issued for that community advising people to stay in their homes and avoid picking up hitchhikers. 

After the alert was issued, two of the people inside the house surrendered and were taken into custody. A third person later surrendered as well, and police found and seized a loaded firearm from one of those three. 

After the initial arrests, one of the people still inside the house began to open fire. The Critical Incident Response Team tried to resolve the situation peacefully, but the efforts didn’t work, according to RCMP. Then, shots were exchanged between one of the occupants of the house and the police. 

Just before 5:00 p.m. Thursday, a man left the house and was taken into custody without incident. He was then taken to the hospital for a medical condition unrelated to the standoff and gunfight. 

The final suspect to leave the house told police there was another man still in the house, but he was injured. The injured man, identified as a 22-year-old from Prince Albert, was taken to hospital where he was declared dead. 

As the incident was a shooting involving police officers, the RCMP will have an external agency investigate the situation. For this, the Moose Jaw Police Service will be conducting the investigation. As well, the RCMP have requested the provincial Ministry of Justice to appoint an independent investigation observer. 

The RCMP advised in a release that the four who were arrested remain in custody. Information on the charges they are facing will be provided at a future time. No more information concerning the incident itself will be provided by the RCMP due to the external investigation.