2 men in hospital following Iqaluit shooting

Two men were injured following a shooting in Iqaluit on Dec. 31.

The RCMP responded to a call about gun shots early in the morning in the 100-block area of the Nunavut capital. RCMP said when officers arrived at the scene, they were confronted by a man who pointed a firearm at them.

Shots were fired and the man fled.

Police said they found the man a short time later near house 238, bleeding from the chest area. The suspect was taken to the Qikiqtani General Hospital where he was treated for injuries. 

Another man living in the 100-block area of homes in Iqaluit was injured during the incident. He was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries in hospital.

Parts of the downtown area near the Snack restaurant and the Public Health building were cordoned off by police vehicles and tape.

People nearby described hearing multiple gunshots very early Wednesday morning. Iqaluit resident Travis Daley said he was sleeping inside his house when he was abruptly woken around 4 a.m. Wednesday morning.

"I just heard a couple bangs and got up thinking some kids were messing around with the house and I looked outside and I saw an RCMP truck, doors wide open and they just chased a kid down the street."

Daley said he went back to bed and then woke up this morning.

"That's all I know, then they put tape around my house and I woke up this morning in the crime scene," said Daley.

The RCMP’s policy is to have an outside police or independent agency investigate serious matters that involve RCMP officers.

Det. John Monette of the Ottawa Police Service Major Crime Unit were to arrive in Iqaluit Wednesday to oversee the investigation, and a team from the N.W.T. will handle the investigation, according to Iqaluit RCMP.