Statement by Superintendent Chan Daktari Dara at media availability on Alaska Highway shooting

January 28, 2020
Whitehorse, Yukon

News release

Thank you for coming today. My name is Superintendent Chan Daktari Dara, I am the Criminal Operations Officer in charge of Core Policing for the Yukon RCMP.

I want to summarize what we know about this incident and give you an update on where the investigation is at today.

On Friday January 24th at about lunch time, Whitehorse RCMP police officers quickly responded to reports of gunshots being heard on the Alaska Highway in the Porter Creek area, near Centennial Street and Wann Road.

On arrival, officers located a vacant Hyundai Sonata in the ditch, with what appeared to be bullet holes.

Through witness accounts and surveillance videos from nearby businesses, we were able to gather limited information and description of a suspect and a vehicle associated to that suspect.

The following day, on January 25th, investigators were able to locate two male occupants of the vehicle that was shot at, both uninjured. Officers determined that it was a targeted shooting and related to the illicit drug trade and organized crime.

To date, we have not located the suspect. And we are still asking the public's help in identifying and locating him, described as a black male, approximately 6 feet tall.

We will be pursuing charges of two counts of attempted murder.

Our investigation continues to advance. I'm aware that the possible suspect vehicle has now been located, within the city limits of Whitehorse, so we are no longer looking for this vehicle. I can't go into further detail, as we are still in the evidence gathering stage in processing the vehicle.

I want to emphasize that if you think you recognize the suspect, please consider that person to be dangerous. Do not approach, but call Whitehorse RCMP immediately at 867-667-5555.

If you have information to share, no matter how insignificant you may think that piece of information is, I'm urging you to please call us.

If you want to provide information anonymously, you can do so by submitting a tip online on the Crime Stoppers Yukon website or you can call them at 1-800-222-8477.

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Contact information

Yukon RCMP - Media Relations
867-633-9330
mdiv.communications@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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