Updated: Aug. 27, 5:00 p.m.
Two people, including a 46-year-old man who was being sought by the West Nipissing Police Service, have been located deceased.
A 59-year old woman who was also involved in the altercation was transported to hospital where she is being treated for critical injuries.
The North East Region Crime Unit and the West Nipissing Police Service are continuing the investigation under direction of Detective Inspector Matt Watson of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch. There is no public safety concern at this time.
The Province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has been contacted and has invoked its mandate.
As a result, the OPP and the West Nipissing Police Service will not be able to provide any further information.
Any person with information related to this incident should immediately contact the West Nipissing Police Service at (705) 753-1234, the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or their nearest police authority.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), submit information online at www.nearnorthcrimestoppers.com, or provide information by texting the word "Nipper" plus the tip information to CRIMES (274637).
You may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Updated: Aug. 27, 11:30 a.m.
The 46-year-old man police were searching for in relation to a double-shooting last night in Sturgeon Falls was found dead in the bush of a gunshot wound in the early morning hours of Aug. 27, the province's special Investigations Unit said in a news release this morning.
The investigation is still ongoing.
The SIU said in a news release a short time ago that shortly after 8 p.m. on Aug. 26, a woman called 911 reporting shots had been fired on her property on Leblanc Road in Sturgeon Falls.
Police responded in force, with officers from the West Nipissing Police Service as well as OPP officers from the North Bay and Orillia detachments sent to the scene.
Police and the 46-year-old had an "interaction," the SIU reports, and the man fled into the bush.
He was found deceased by police at 2:06 a.m. The man had suffered a gunshot wound, SIU said. Whether that gunshot wound was self-inflicted police have not yet said.
"At this time, five investigators and three forensic investigators have been assigned to this incident," SIU said.
Sudbury.com reporter Heather Green-Oliver is in Sturgeon Falls today. Photos she provided from the home on Leblanc Road where police say the shootings occurred show police vehicles and the SIU van on the premises. A vehicle in the driveway is under a tarp, suggesting investigators are gathering evidence from it.
The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. The SIU is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.
No details about the double-shooting that was originally reported have been released.
On two Sturgeon Falls Facebook discussion groups, there is speculation about the nature of the original shooting and the fate of the two people who police say were shot.
However, there has been no official word from police on nature of the original incident, injuries or fatalties. Neither the name of the suspect nor the names of the two people police say were shot have been released.
Aug. 27, 9 a.m. update
West Nipissing Police Chief Raymond St Pierre said in a news release this morning that the Special Investigation Unit has stepped in to handle a shooting incident last night in Sturgeon Falls.
That's significant because when police officers are involved in incidents where someone has been seriously injured dies the SIU has the statutory mandate to conduct independent investigations to determine whether a criminal offence took place.
St. Pierre adds, "There is no public safety concern to report."
Last night West Nipissing Police and the OPP responded to a shooting involving two people in the Leblanc Road area.
See: Man sought in Sturgeon double shooting
Police said last night that they were searching for a 46-year-old man in connection with the shooting.
The incident was reported at approximately 8:15 p.m. when police responded to a 911 call.
Residents in the Drive In road and Leblanc road area were told to remain in their homes and to lock their doors and windows.
The OPP closed Highway 17 in both directions just before 10 p.m. for about five hours.
Sudbury.com will update as details become available.
Original story
West Nipissing Police and the OPP are searching for a 46-year-old man after a double shooting in Sturgeon Falls Sunday night.
Police confirm they are currently investigating a shooting involving at least two people.
The incident was reported at approximately 8:15 p.m. when police responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting in the Leblanc Road area of Sturgeon Falls.
They say they are actively seeking a 46-year-old man.
Residents in the Drive In Road and Leblanc Road area were asked to remain in their residences and to lock their doors and windows.
The OPP closed Highway 17 in both directions just before 10 p.m., and it remained closed until 3 a.m.
Anyone with information about these occurrences is asked to contact the West Nipissing Police Service at 705-753-1234. For those who wish to remain anonymous, there are three ways to contact the Near North Crime Stoppers. Call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), text the word “Nipper” plus the tip information to CRIMES (274637), or submit a tip online at nearnorthcrimestoppers.com.
