SASKATOON – A suspect in 35-year-old Damien Sanderson’s murder Wednesday made his first appearance in Saskatoon Provincial Court Thursday afternoon. Shane Thomas, 24, is charged with second-degree murder in the city’s sixth homicide this year. He was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court again Monday.
Saskatoon police had responded to the 200 block of Avenue S Â鶹´«Ã½AV after getting a report of a man with a gunshot wound. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
A nearby school was locked down. Three homes were searched in relation to the homicide investigation; 200 block of Avenue S Â鶹´«Ã½AV, 200 block Avenue W Â鶹´«Ã½AV, and 300 block Avenue U Â鶹´«Ã½AV. Police seized firearms and took 15 people into custody from a home on Avenue W Â鶹´«Ã½AV but no charges have been laid in connection to the homicide investigation.
Two people were arrested in a rural area near Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation after they fled from one of the Saskatoon homes. Police determined they weren’t involved in the homicide but charged the driver, a 39-year-old man, with evading police, dangerous driving, unlawful confinement, possession of stolen property, and possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The 20-year-old female passenger was released without charges.
Police say that they believe Thomas and Sanderson were known to each other.
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