Canada teen indicted over deadly shooting

OTTAWA — A 17-year-old high school student was formally accused yesterday (Jan 25) of murdering two teenage brothers and two teachers in a shooting rampage in the remote Canadian aboriginal community of La Loche.

The teen, who cannot be identified under Canadian law, was indicted on four counts of first degree, or premeditated murder and seven counts of attempted murder as well as a weapons charge during a brief court appearance.

A court official told AFP the accused would remain in custody until his next scheduled appearance on Feb 22.

On Friday, the suspect killed two brothers — Drayden and Dayne Fontaine, aged 13 and 17 — at their home in La Loche, Saskatchewan, before going to a nearby school.

There, he allegedly opened fire again and shot dead two teachers, 21-year-old Marie Janvier and 35-year-old Adam Wood, critically injuring seven other people, according to police.

He was arrested after police received an emergency call about “a person discharging a weapon in the community”, Royal Canadian Mounted Police superintendent Maureen Levy said.

The attack has traumatised the 3,000 inhabitants of the small lakeside community and shocked Canadians.

Unlike in the United States, mass shootings are rare in Canada, where firearms are more tightly regulated than south of the border. AFP