Suspect in Fort Smith, N.W.T., shooting arrested
Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a shooting outside a bar in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. The incident, which occurred during a local festival, left three people injured and forced the community into a 13-hour lockdown.
Why it matters
The arrest provides closure to a small community that experienced a rare and significant act of public violence.
The suspect was arrested without incident at around 4:30 a.m. MT on Sunday, police said in a release. Charges are forthcoming, pending further investigation. The suspect joins two other people of interest, who were taken into custody on Saturday.
Mayor Dana Fergusson said the news brings a “gentle sense of relief.”
“It's one more bad guy out of the community, you know,” she said on Sunday. “Having that person detained and arrested really gives people peace of mind.”
In addition to being Fort Smith’s mayor, Dana Fergusson owns the bar where the shooting occurred and was an eyewitness. As the opening event of the Fireweed Festival was drawing to a close, an altercation outside Dirty O'Fergies bar led to shots fired and three people injured. The community went into lockdown, with a shelter-in-place order that lasted for more than 13 hours.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in