The final suspect in the Canada mass stabbings that took place on Sunday has died after suffering unspecified “medical distress” at a hospital soon after his arrest, police said on Wednesday. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officially confirmed Myles Sanderson's death during a late-night news conference, only hours after it was reported that he had been taken into custody.
Police said Myles was apprehended near the town of Rosthern in Saskatchewan province, about 100km southwest of the region where the bloodshed unfolded on Sunday. Canada's Global News, citing several law enforcement sources, reported that Myles surrendered to police and was taken away alive in an ambulance after a highway pursuit wherein cops rammed his vehicle off the road.
RCMP assistant commissioner Rhonda Blackmore said Myles “went into medical distress” soon after he was nabbed, adding that emergency medical personnel on spot attended to him and he was taken to a hospital as well, but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
“All life saving measures that we are capable of were taken at that time," she was quoted as saying by The Associated Press.
When Myles was captured, a knife was found inside the vehicle he was driving, The Associated Press reported.
{{/usCountry}}When Myles was captured, a knife was found inside the vehicle he was driving, The Associated Press reported.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier on Wednesday, RCMP issued an emergency alert, asking residents to shelter at their places and avoid approaching any suspicious person. The announcement was made as officers responded to a report of stolen vehicle being driven by a man armed with a knife, who may be linked to the mass stabbings.
Myles along with his brother Damien Sanderson were accused of stabbing 10 people to death and injuring 18 others in the process on Sunday. A day later, police found Damien's body in a grassy area, and an investigation is currently underway to ascertain if Myles killed his own brother.
An ex-con, Myles has a long history of past crimes, including as many as 59 convictions over a period of two decades. He was released on parole in February this year, while serving a four-year sentence on various charges, including robbery and assault. Police, however, have been on a hunt for him since May as he was reported to have violated his release terms in more than one occasion, including not smoking and taking drugs.
Canadian public safety minister Marco Mendicino said that there will be a probe into the parole board's assessment of Myles.
(With inputs from Reuters)