Based on coverage from CBC, CityNews Halifax, and NNSL.
In a dramatic series of events that unfolded over the weekend, a 21-year-old man from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, has been charged with a slew of serious offences following a shooting at the Inuvik airport. The incident, which took place early Saturday afternoon, has left both the local community and authorities on high alert.
The story begins at the Inuvik airport, where a 58-year-old woman was shot, prompting immediate action from bystanders who administered first aid before she was transported to the hospital. Her condition, thankfully, is reported to be stable. But the drama didn't end there. The suspect, identified as Maverick Elias, allegedly fled the scene in a burgundy or red Ford pickup truck, setting off a chain of events that would involve a high-stakes manhunt and a community-wide shelter-in-place alert.
As the RCMP scrambled to locate Elias, the plot thickened. Less than an hour after the initial shooting, police received reports that a vehicle matching the suspect's truck had struck six people on the Dempster Highway. These victims, who were not known to Elias, were also taken to the hospital and are in stable condition. The incident led to the temporary closure of the Dempster Highway and the Mackenzie Ferry, as officers worked diligently to contain the situation.
By late afternoon, the tension was finally diffused when Elias was apprehended without incident in a clearing near the highway. The RCMP, who had been coordinating a multi-faceted response involving forensic and major crimes units, lifted the shelter-in-place alert shortly after his arrest.
Elias now faces a daunting list of charges, including attempted murder, aggravated assault, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and several weapons-related offences. The RCMP confirmed that Elias and the shooting victim were known to each other, though the connection to the highway victims remains absent.
This incident has not only shaken the small community of Inuvik but also highlighted the swift and coordinated response of local law enforcement. While the investigation is ongoing, the community can take some solace in the fact that all victims are recovering and the suspect is in custody.
As the story continues to develop, residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any additional information to the Inuvik RCMP. In the meantime, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of violence and the importance of community resilience in the face of adversity.
