An update tonight on what was a tragic weekend in Timmins.
Two people from Fort Albany First Nation died in separate, police-related incidents on the same day and the city has turned to reflection and memorial in the wake of these tragedies.
As the events of this past weekend begin to sink in, more questions than answers are surfacing as the community comes to grips with the deaths of these two residents in the care of Timmins police.
Sunday saw Special Investigation Unit officers combing a frozen Gillies Lake for clues as to what happened to 21-year-old Joey Knapaysweet, who was shot by Timmins polices officers just after 10 Saturday morning.
The young man wasn’t the only loss the remote First Nation would suffer that day. By 10 p.m., 62-year-old Agnes Sutherland died after being rushed from her holding cell at the Timmins Police Station.
As the community mourns, local leaders are offering support.
Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus offered condolences and a simple reminder to residents, saying on Facebook:
"We all have a stake in finding out what happened and finding ways to ensure such deaths do not happen in our community again."
Timmins Mayor Steve Black spoke to the issue at Tuesday night's council meeting.
"I would encourage our community to please refrain from some of the comments that are being made that are directed towards the individual and the family, that are not appropriate and racist in some regard in social media circles, and are definitely inappropriate for a time like this." said Black.
Neither of the SIU investigations has been completed yet, with officers knocking on doors around Gillies Lake, looking for a clearer idea of what happened and only releasing a basic amount of information to the public.
Grand Chief Jonathon Solomon of Fort Albany wasn't available to comment on these incidents.
