Yukon RCMP said they are investigating a double homicide after two men were shot dead in the township of Mayo, about 400 kilometers from Whitehorse, Saturday morning.
Police told reporters at a news conference Sunday they believe Ben Symington, 35, and Michael Bennett, 22, were shot dead just after 5am on March 11 in Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation territory.
“The families of Mr. Symington and Mr. Bennett have been notified of their deaths by police,” Yukon RCMP Insp. said Lindsay Ellis.
“Yukon RCMP extends its condolences to their families and loved ones.”
Police said they could not confirm what type of firearm was used or the connection between the men.
“At this point we know they were both residents of the Whitehorse community and had been for quite a long time,” Ellis said.
“Part of the investigation is determining how long they’ve been in Mayo.”
Mayo RCMP said they received a call about 9:13 a.m. about the deaths at Subdivision C6 in the Future Road area.
Ellis, the officer in charge of criminal investigations in the area, said several witnesses heard gunshots earlier in the morning. She also said at the press conference that a blue 2010 Ford Escape is currently in police custody in connection with the crime.
Ellis said it was too early to give details on the circumstances of the deaths. She said police are investigating a variety of avenues, including drug-related crimes.
“We are aware of the impact of drug use in the Mayo community,” Ellis said.
“A crime of this magnitude in a small community like Mayo will have a significant impact on the community. We would like to emphasize that we continue to believe that there is no imminent danger to the public related to these killings.”
Police are asking the public to report any information about Symington and Bennett and to report any interactions with either man over the past week.
The RCMP is also asking people living in the area to let them know if they’ve seen suspicious activity or vehicles, and if anyone has CCTV footage of their home or business that could help with the investigation.
The area around the crime scene is expected to reopen to traffic early Monday morning.
RCMP can be reached at (867) 667-5555 in Whitehorse, (867) 996-5555 in Mayo.
