Gitsegukla, B.C. – RCMP managed to defuse a tense situation today in a First Nations community with the help of the local chief and band council.

 

New Hazelton RCMP were called out to Gitsegukla at approximately 1:45 Thursday morning after reports of shots fired. The Emergency Response Team was also deployed to the community because of the potentially dangerous situation.

 

Constable Lesley Smith with North District RCMP says officers were directed to a home in the lower area of the village, but the people inside didn’t respond to police attempts at communication. Smith says officers and the local fire department cordoned off an area in order to maintain safety while further attempts to contact the residents were made.

 

Smith says RCMP were able to partner with the local chief and council and with that help, were able to escort an adult male, an adult female, and two children from the home shortly after 11 a.m. Police say there were no injuries, but what exactly happened is still unknown.

Police are speaking with the residents and investigating the shots complaint to see if they were even involved.