Man facing first-degree murder charge in La Ronge kidnapping, shooting
- EFN Staff | February 20, 2015
UPDATE as of Friday, February 20:
RCMP say Jonas Budd was taken into custody last night around 10:30 p.m. without incident.
This was after a standoff for the better part of Thursday in the community of Sturgeon Landing.
Budd will make his first court appearance in La Ronge on Monday, February 23.
He is facing the following charges: break and enter; first degree murder; kidnapping with a weapon; uttering threats; pointing a weapon; possessing a dangerous weapon; and possessing a firearm while prohibited.
RCMP have also confirmed the name of the shooting victim: 17-year-old Dustin Bird.
*****
UPDATE as of Thursday, February 19 around 11:40 a.m.:
Saskatchewan and Manitoba RCMP have located Jonas Budd in a residence in Sturgeon Landing. RCMP say its members on the scene have established a perimeter and are communicating with Budd, working to ensure his safety, the safey of the community and all responders.
RCMP advises those in Sturgeon Landing that there will be a larger than normal police presence and ask everyone to respect police barricades.
*****
Police are searching for a man believed to have abducted a teenage girl as well as been involved in a fatal shooting in La Ronge yesterday.
Budd is an Aboriginal male, 5'9" tall, 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He has several tattoos, including:
- Left forearm: bear paw
- Left calf: eagle head
- Left shin: ribbon with the name Nicole
- Upper torso, back: feathers
The suspect may be driving a grey 2001 GMC Sierra 1500, extended cab, two-wheel drive with Saskatchewan license plate of 043 JEZ. His direction of travel is unknown; however, he has connections to Cumberland House, Pinehouse, Sturgeon Landing and Prince Albert, as well as Thompson, Manitoba.
Investigators have determined that there were four individuals in the residence at the time of the shooting: the deceased male, the abduction victim, an adult male, and Budd. The initial call to police came through 9-1-1 and was made by someone inside the residence where the incident took place. Investigators are working to determine the number of shots fired. Investigators an confirm that the only individual injured during this incident is the deceased male, who has been identified on social media and by various media outlets as Dustin Bird, the 17-year-old boyfriend of the girl who was abducted earlier in the day.
Based on information received in the initial call to police it is believed that Budd is armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees Jonas Budd is asked to immediately call 9-1-1. He is not to be approached as investigators believe he has a rifle with him.