RCMP lay attempted murder charge after standoff in Kingsclear First Nation

Sam Farley · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 16, 2025 4:58 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

Police accidental a antheral is facing respective charges pursuing a lengthy standoff successful Kingsclear First Nation connected Tuesday day that ended with the fishy being taken into custody.

A merchandise said a 34-year-old antheral from the community, Michael Sabattis, appeared successful Fredericton tribunal connected Wednesday and is charged with attempted murder, discharge of a firearm with intent, aggravated assault, battle and uttering threats.

Police enactment retired the merchandise astatine 5 p.m. connected Wednesday, nearly 24 hours aft the incidental ended. CBC News made repeated requests for an interviews with RCMP connected Tuesday evening and passim Wednesday, but they were declined. 

The merchandise said nary instrumentality enforcement officers were injured, but it did not notation Sabattis's condition. 

"We've ne'er evidently experienced thing similar that with the progressive shooter oregon anything," said Kingsclear First Nation Chief Gabriel Atwin successful an interview.

Kingsclear First Nation, besides known arsenic Bilijk, is astir 20 kilometres westbound of Fredericton.

The RCMP "did a precise nonrecreational occupation successful making definite everyone was harmless and besides the information of the idiosyncratic that was apprehended," Atwin said, describing it as a "tragic event" for the tight-knit community. 

"Thankfully everyone's OK and we'll person to get connected the road to healing our community," Atwin said.

CBC News observed a burned-down location astatine the country connected Wednesday, but the merchandise did not notation immoderate fire. RCMP did not instantly respond to a petition seeking clarification connected the occurrence aft the merchandise came out. 

Police said they responded to an code connected Tomahawk Avenue astatine 12:35 p.m. Tuesday aft receiving a study of an assault. Upon arrival, constabulary recovered the suspect outside.

"The antheral threatened constabulary earlier barricading himself wrong of the residence with a weapon," the merchandise said. 

"The concern escalated a abbreviated clip aboriginal erstwhile the antheral began firing dozens of gunshots astatine constabulary done the windows of the residence."

The merchandise said constabulary ne'er returned fire, and that 7 RCMP vehicles were struck and sustained damages. The merchandise included respective photos of gunshot harm to constabulary vehicles.

"A subordinate of the RCMP Emergency Response squad was besides struck successful the caput by a bullet; fortunately, the subordinate was wearing a ballistic helmet and did not prolong immoderate superior injuries," the merchandise said.

Crisis negotiators attempted to negociate with the man, the merchandise said, but helium refused to surrender. Tear state was yet deployed. A antheral and woman emerged and some were arrested. The merchandise does not accidental however agelong the standoff lasted, but RCMP enactment retired a connection astatine 7:40 P.M. connected Tuesday advising the "police operation" successful Kingsclear had ended.

The antheral remains successful custody, but the pistillate was released. 

Police said the incidental did not conscionable criteria for an alert acceptable notice, but did not explicate why. Nearby residences were occupied during the standoff, the merchandise said. 

Atwin confirmed that a location belonging to 2 elders did pain down, and that the assemblage volition look astatine rebuilding for them. The First Nation's intelligence wellness situation squad is visiting homes successful the assemblage to cheque connected people, helium added.