Yesterday, the RCMP warned the community after 1pm that there was a public safety alert after a man was seen in the community carrying a long-barreled pistol.
The RCMP said a man wanted with an order to assault an officer was in the area and was being held at a house on Pemmican Portage Avenue.
The community was told to stay home and keep the doors closed.
At around 3 p.m., a second alert was issued after gunfire was fired from local police at 133 Pemmican Avenue.
Nisto Awasisak Memorial School was established with a security protocol and people were evacuated from residences near the incident.
Two people surrendered shortly after the emergency alert, followed by a third person later.
Police grabbed a loaded gun from one of the first three people, but people still inside the house began firing with shots exchanged between the critical incident response team and the suspects in the house.
Shortly before 5 a.m., a man left the building and was arrested without incident. He told officers there was a fifth man injured in the house.
When officers entered, they found the man and provided emergency medical care, but he was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
He has been identified as a 22-year-old man by Prince Albert, but no name has been given.
At 6 p.m., police said the incident was over.
Chaboyer said there is still a strong police presence in the community, located northeast of Nipawin.
“Right now there is a lot of police presence up and down the highway,” he said. “They’re still doing some research.”
As required by law, the RCMP has requested an outside agency to investigate the death, with Moose Jaw police conducting the death.
The RCMP has also asked the Department of Justice to appoint an independent investigative observer under the Saskatchewan Police Act.
The other four people arrested during the incident remain in custody and the Saskatchewan RCMP continues to investigate. Details of charges will be provided when available.
Police have not yet informed the public about the state of the search for Alvin Thomas, a 39-year-old man accused of Hocksbergen’s death.
Thomas is being described as 5-11 with black hair and brown eyes, he has a tattoo with the word “Pritch” in italics on the back of one hand and the letters AT and DM on the other under his thumb.
Thomas has connections to Cumberland House, Nipawin and Prince Albert, but police did not know where he was yesterday.
He faces a second-degree murder charge over Hocksbergen’s death.
Hocksbergen’s awakening begins with services tomorrow and Sunday and his funeral is scheduled for June 6 at Cumberland House’s Veteran’s Hall.
It is then that the community will intensify efforts to contain growing problems with gangs and other violence, Chaboyer said.
Once again for the community, Megan Gallagher, a missing woman investigated as a homicide by Saskatoon police, is closely related to Cumberland House and is Chaboyer’s cousin.
Two of the four people wanted in connection with Gallagher’s death have been arrested and police are still searching for John Wayne Sanderson, 44, and Jessica Sutherland, 42.
Ernest Whitehead and Roderick Sutherland have been arrested and charged with committing human rights abuses.
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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com
On Twitter: @princealbertnow