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Lest we forget. Mercury and local businesses pay tribute to veterans. Remembrance Day special on PAGES A9 - 12
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023
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Investigations continue after incidents leave two people dead and a police officer injured
Glance at the future. ECS hosts career fair for their students. PAGE A3
New page. North Portal musical duo invited the community to new album release. Details on
The Estevan Police Service was called to a homicide that occurred in the 1200 block of Sixth Street in the morning of Nov. 1. Photo by David Willberg
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By Ana Bykhovskaia and David Willberg
What it takes to ensure safety. Chamber of commerce members talk safety and wellbeing project. PAGE A7
Achievements night. Speedway celebrated track champions at awards banquet. PAGE A14
Investigations are ongoing after two separate but connected incidents last Wednesday in Estevan left a mother and her son dead and a member of the Estevan Police Service in hospital with a gunshot wound. According to the EPS, officers were dispatched to an apartment in the 1200-block of Sixth Street at approximately 6:38 a.m. The information that police received was that a woman was injured and bleeding. Officers attended and located the woman suffering from what the EPS called "serious upper-body injuries". She was transported by Estevan EMS to St. Joseph's Hospital, where the EPS said she died at 9:28 a.m. The EPS deemed her death as a homicide – the first such incident in Estevan since June 2021. The victim was identified as Karie Ann Guillas, age 46, of Estevan. An EPS investigation into her death is ongoing. No additional details were immediately released. Officers arrested the woman's 19-year-old son, Justice Guillas, at the scene and he was transported to the police station. According to the EPS, during the course of the homicide investigation, an altercation took place at the police station between Justice Guillas and an EPS officer. The identity of the officer has not been released publicly. Saskatchewan's Serious Incident Response Team, which is heading up the investigation into what happened
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at the police station, said it was notified by the EPS about an officer-involved shooting that had taken place within the building at approximately 9:25 a.m. "During the process of photographing the man, a confrontation took place and the man gained control of an EPS-issued firearm," SIRT said in a news release. "During the incident, one member of EPS was shot, sustaining a serious injury. A second EPS member discharged their service pistol, striking the 19-year-old man." EPS members provided first aid until Estevan EMS arrived. Sirens could be heard throughout the community as emergency crews rushed to the scene and ambulances were seen in the alley north of the police station. Traffic was diverted from the 1100-block of Fourth Street. EMS provided care to both the officer and Guillas before both individuals were transported to hospital, first in Estevan and then to Regina. According to the EPS, the officer was listed in stable condition on Wednesday afternoon and was released from hospital on Friday. Justice Guillas died that afternoon in a Regina hospital. The EPS said there were no other suspects in the homicide and there was no risk to the public. But there was an increased police presence in front of the residence until Thursday afternoon, with an EPS vehicle at the scene and yellow police tape blocking the entrance. Hospital was on lockdown St. Joseph's Hospital posted a
sign on its window, saying it was in lockdown on Wednesday morning and it was only accepting patients for emergencies. The lockdown ended in the early afternoon. Hospital executive director Candace Kopec said the limited information they received from the police as the situation began in the morning made them take serious measures to ensure the safety of staff, patients in their care and the community. "That emergency response procedure was in response to a safety threat
in the community," Kopec said. "We didn't have all of the information, so in talking briefly to police, the decision was quickly made to lock all doors until we had adequate information to assess the situation." With a lack of clarity on the situation, the hospital went on full lockdown and was preparing to have the intercom doors blocked, Kopec explained. But soon, it was determined there was no longer a threat to the community. They continued to keep A2 »JUSTICE
St. Joseph’s Hospital was placed under a lockdown for several hours after the incident. Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia
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