GORE BAY—The five accused in the February 2019 shooting on the M’Chigeeng First Nation that sent two people to hospital have been sentenced.
As was reported previously by this newspaper, on Saturday, February 2, 2019, at approximately 5:05 pm, officers from the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin (UCCM) Anishnaabe Police, the Manitoulin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service, the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation Police and the Greater Sudbury Police Service Tactical Unit responded to a shooting incident in M’Chigeeng First Nation.
OPP and UCCM Police assisted with a hold and secure of the community until there were no concerns for public safety. OPP officers arrested four of the suspects in a stolen vehicle, on Highway 6 in Little Current, in a dramatic takedown at the swing bridge. OPP and UCCM Police arrested two additional suspects on M’Chigeeng First Nation. A 20-year-old male and 16-year-old male were transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Four youths and one adult, 20-year-old Romaine Sam of Toronto, were charged.
On November 6, Mr. Sam pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle, entering a dwelling house with the intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of property that was obtained by crime. On the same date, the accused was sentenced as follows: on the charge of theft of a motor vehicle, the accused was sentenced to probation for 12 months; on the charge of entering a dwelling house with the intent to commit an indictable offence, the accused was sentenced to probation for 12 months, consecutive to the charge above; and on the charge of possession of property that was obtained by crime, the accused was sentenced to probation for 12 months consecutive to the charges above.
On the same date, the charges of attempted murder, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon that is dangerous to the public and possession of a firearm while prohibited against the accused were withdrawn.
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the sentencing for the four youths involved in the shooting—an 18-year-old female from Ajax, a 17-year-old male from North York, an 18-year-old male from Brampton and an 18-year-old male from Shelburne—cannot be made public, but the case has been closed.
