The Saskatchewan RCMP says it has charged 18-year-old Darrius Racette with four counts of first-degree murder in connection to a quadruple homicide on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation earlier this month.
On Feb. 18, Racette was arrested in Yorkton. He made his first appearance in provincial court on Wednesday afternoon.
A male youth, who cannot be named in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was also arrested on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation.
Charges against the youth are expected to be laid later Wednesday and mirror those laid against Racette.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work that has been done by our officers and the partner agencies that we worked with,” Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore told reporters at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
“I understand that from the outside, it may seem like this wasn’t a quick resolution, but I think it’s important for the public to realize investigations like this are incredibly complex. They take time and diligence on the part of police.”
On Feb. 4 the bodies of 34-year-old Tracy Hotomani from Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation, 44-year-old Sheldon Quewezance from Zagime Anishinabek, 47-year-old Shauna Fay from Indian Head, Sask. and 51-year-old Terry Jack from Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation were found in a home on the First Nation after File Hills Police Service was called to investigate “sudden deaths at a home” in the community.
RCMP released the identities of the victims on Feb. 11.
In her remarks, Blackmore reiterated that the killings were targeted.
“This was not a random act of violence as such, we did not believe there to be an imminent risk to general public safety, and did not proceed with issuing an emergency alert,” she explained.
Ashley St. Germaine, senior investigative officer with Saskatchewan RCMP’s major crimes branch also spoke on the investigation.
She noted that the arrest and charging of 29-year-old Keagan Panipekeesick in relation to a firearms incident on Zagame Anishinabek happened in close proximity to the homicides on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation.
However, the two incidents were ultimately unrelated.
“The RCMP communicated the two incidents together as we wanted to warn the people living in those areas to be aware of any potential threats and to remain vigilant while the investigations unfolded, we did not publicly identify a suspect in relation to the homicides on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation at that time, we understand how the conclusion may have been drawn,” she explained.
“However, we want to remind the public that police investigations take time and are often incredibly complex, with lots of new information being gathered rapidly.”
In a statement posted online Wednesday night, Carry the Kettle Chief Scott Eashappie thanked both RCMP investigators and members of the community who came forward with information.
“Our nation has suffered in the last 16 days not knowing if anyone would be caught for these horrible actions,” Eashappie said.
“I know each day that went by it felt more hopeless, frustrating, and fearful for the families. We will continue to pray for each other and look after one another in the days ahead.”
Eashappie went on to say the nation is planning to hold a meeting on safety and take direction to ensure an incident like this never happens again.
Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation is located approximately 100 kilometres southeast of Regina.
