When Lloydminster RCMP surrounded two homes in the area of Jack Kemp Community School early Monday morning, they ordered neighbours to stay inside, without giving much of an explanation.
Police blocked the east-side street from about 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., asking residents to keep away from windows while officers moved through the area. A short time later, another police presence appeared across in the same general area. It ended with police tape surrounding a home in the Park Manor apartment complex.
It wasn’t until Nov. 12 that officials confirmed the two incidents were connected to an early-morning shooting in the 4700 block of 32 Street that sent two people to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
For some residents, the lack of information during those tense hours was frustrating.
“So they say avoid the area but nothing to be concerned by,” wrote Lloydminster resident Coalbey Johnson on Facebook. “(Not) Letting the people know there was a shooting, let alone two shootings in a neighbourhood with two schools nearby, is mind-boggling.”
Another neighbour, who lives on Barr Crescent, said police kept the block sealed off for about four hours. “We were not allowed to leave the home and had to stay away from all windows,” they said.
In response to public concern about communication, RCMP K Division Public Information Officer Mathew Howell said every situation undergoes a formal risk assessment before any details are released.
“There were heavy police presence releases issued for both locations so that the public was advised,” said Howell. “A risk assessment is always conducted on every file and those factors are all taken into consideration. In this case, it was not believed that there was a risk to the public with regards to the incident.
Furthermore, the fact that kids were out of school for fall break also factors into the equation. We will always make sure that public safety comes first and should there be a risk to the public, the public will be made aware.
“Though I am not privy to what happened on the ground, I can say from experience that when we announce a heavy police presence to the public, the local individuals and thus those most directly impacted will be spoken to first by the members on scene and their security will be taken into account as well.”
RCMP say both shooting victims are refusing to cooperate and that investigators believe the incident was targeted. The investigation remains ongoing.
Read more: GALLERY: RCMP investigating double shooting in Lloyd
