M’CHIGEENG—UCCM Anishinaabe Police officers have recovered a gun that they believe was used on February 2, the day of the shooting incident on M’Chigeeng First Nation that saw two people injured and six more arrested.
Residents were offered an update last week when the UCCM Anishinaabe Police Service announced it had recovered a gun that officers believe was used on the night of the incident. According to Police Chief Rodney Nahwegahbow, UCCM Police does not believe there are any outstanding weapons that have yet to be found.
“On February 5, members of the UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service, acting on a search warrant, attended a residence on M’Chigeeng First Nation and seized a firearm that is suspected to be the same one that was used in the shooting incident,” stated a press release from UCCM Police.
Residents within the community have speculated that the shooting may have been drug-related. Police Chief Nahwegahbow declined to comment on those rumours.
“Because it’s an ongoing investigation, we cannot discuss (possible motives). We’re still doing interviews,” Police Chief Nahwegahbow told The Expositor Friday afternoon.
As of Monday, the two female suspects had been released on bail with their next court date set for February 20. A male youth’s bail was being reviewed as of Monday. The adult male suspect is due in court on May 20.
The press release also extended the police force’s thanks to members of the public who had provided information that led to their recovery of the weapon and the initial arrests.
“We are actively seeking the public’s assistance on anything that may be relevant to the investigation,” said Police Chief Nahwegahbow.
“As we learn more, we will keep (the public) apprised. The public wants to know, and we want people to keep focused on what the truth is.”
The First Nation has begun to heal from the shooting that rocked the community at the beginning of the month. Last Thursday, February 7, M’Chigeeng held a community meeting at the M’Chigeeng Community Complex that included an information session about the shooting incident.
UCCM Police were scheduled to attend the meeting to listen to the concerns of band members regarding “the policing issues,” along with the chief and council and senior band management.
“This meeting is to allow for a safe space for our membership to debrief, make recommendations and voice concerns,” stated a poster advertising the meeting.
Police Chief Nahwegahbow said he was unclear about the meaning of a “policing issue” and said he expected that might mean discussions about areas that could be improved upon in the future.
“Whenever a community goes through a situation like this there’s always lessons to be learned and ways we could improve our service delivery,” Police Chief Nahwegahbow said, adding improved communication would likely be a concern for residents.
“We couldn’t go into the neighbourhood and notify residents because it was an active situation. The fact (residents) weren’t contacted at the time may have been an issue that would be raised to us,” he said.
The following day, the First Nation held a separate meeting for community elders to “debrief, make recommendations and voice concerns,” such as with the above-mentioned “policing issues.”
By press time on Monday, Ogimaa-kwe Debassige did not respond to multiple requests for comment regarding the community meetings.
