Myles Sanderson went into “medical distress” after his arrest and was taken to hospital where he died, Royal Canadian Mounted police assistant commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said in a press conference on Wednesday night.
Both Suspects Linked To Canada Mass Stabbing Dead As Second Accused Person Dies From Self-Inflicted Injuries
Myles Sanderson, the suspect wanted over a mass stabbing in Canada that killed 10 people and injured 18 has died in hospital after his arrest, police have confirmed, with sources saying his death was the result of self-inflicted wounds.
Myles Sanderson went into “medical distress” after his arrest and was taken to hospital where he died, Royal Canadian Mounted police assistant commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said in a press conference on Wednesday night.
The Guardian UK reports that Police found a knife in the truck, which officers had rammed off the road into a ditch, but Blackmore would not comment on the cause of his death.
Sources familiar with the situation were said to have earlier confirmed to the Guardian that Sanderson died shortly after being taken into custody after police rammed his stolen vehicle. They said he had died as a result of self-inflicted injuries. Police sources gave similar accounts to Canadian media outlet Global News and Associated Press.
Sanderson's death means both suspects in the attack that rocked the Canadian province of Saskatchewan are now dead. Sanderson's brother, Damien Sanderson was found dead a day after the attacks with injuries that were not believed to be self-inflicted, police said.
With Sanderson dead, police may never understand what motivated him in the mass stabbing, Blackmore said.
According to the report, Police launched a renewed search operation on Wednesday afternoon after being called to a report of a break-and-enter involving Sanderson armed with a knife, where a Chevrolet truck was stolen.
The truck was later spotted racing along a highway at 150km/h, sparking 20 calls of sightings. To protect the public, police moved in and “directed” Sanderson off the road near Rosthern, Saskatchewan, at approximately 3.30pm, where the arrest was made.
An independent investigation into the circumstances of his death will be held, said Blackmore.
The news came shortly after Sanderson’s parents issued an emotional plea for their son to turn himself in.
Sanderson, 32, faced multiple murder charges for his role in a knife attack that devastated the James Smith Cree Nation, an Indigenous community, and the nearby village of Weldon.
“Myles, my boy, turn yourself in. Please. You can do this,” his mother told CBC News. “Come back. Turn yourself in. Do the right thing.”
“Myles, please, please turn yourself in. We don’t want no more hurt. I don’t want nobody hurt any more ... please, my son. I love you. Turn yourself in. Be safe,” he said.
News of the death came hours after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and provincial coroner released the names of the 10 victims, whose ages ranged from 23 to 78.
The victims were named as Thomas Burns, 23, Carol Burns, 46, Gregory Burns, 28, Lydia Gloria Burns, 61, Bonnie Burns, 48, Earl Burns, 66, Lana Head, 49, Christian Head, 54, Robert Sanderson, 49 and Wesley Petterson, 78.
All the victims were residents of James Smith Cree Nation apart from Petterson who lived in Weldon in northern Saskatchewan.
Eighteen other people were wounded in the rampage, which ranks among the worst acts of mass violence attacks in Canada’s modern history. Police said some of the victims appeared to have been targeted, while others were apparently random.
Sanderson’s brother, Damien, 31, who was also initially suspected in the attack, was found dead on Monday near the sites of the attacks. Authorities say his injuries were not self-inflicted.
Sanderson’s parents acknowledged the pain their sons’ actions had caused as the public learned about the lives cut short.
“I want to apologize for my son, my sons. We don’t know the whole story, but I want to apologize to everybody that was hurt and affected by this terrible situation,” his mother said.
His father added, “I give all my sincere apologies to the families … From the bottom of my heart, I mean it,” the father said. “I am so sorry this happened. I don’t know what else to say, what to do … I wish it was a dream.”
Sanderson’s death put an end to days of fear in the surrounding prairie region where fresh panic had been sparked by a string of false sightings of Sanderson.
Mark Arcand, whose sister Bonnie Burns, and nephew Gregory, were among the victims said the last few days had taken on a surreal quality.
“This terrible tragedy that nobody wanted or asked for. It still feels like it’s a nightmare.”
The stabbing spree has prompted questions over why Sanderson, who had a long history of violence, was out on the street.
Parole documents released on Tuesday showed that he had 59 convictions over 20 years, including for domestic assault, assault with a weapon and attacking a police officer.
The records also showed that seven years ago, he attacked and stabbed one of the victims killed in the weekend rampage.