FINAL UPDATE from British Columbia RCMP:
“The RCMP can now confirm that we have located the body of the suspect we were searching for. He was found deceased. A positive confirmation of identification and the exact cause of death is now the subject of a full investigation by the BC Coroner Service. The deceased was located within the identified search area east of Revelstoke. The area will remain closed to allow for a full evidentiary search to be completed.
We delayed on confirming this information in order to ensure that next of kin notifications had been completed, as well as notifications to all the partner agencies who have a connection or interest in this case. Southeast District Major Crime Unit has lead on the concurrent investigation relating to the initial call near Golden on October 11th.”
The City of Revelstoke confirms based on RCMP reports that Sheldon Kyle Thunderblanket has been located, which ends the 24 hour-plus manhunt after a shooting that started at Little Pine First Nation late Monday night.
Up until Wednesday afternoon, Thunderblanket had been the subject of a 65-person search effort that included police helicopters. He was considered armed and dangerous, and the City of Revelstoke wrote on its Facebook page the “The safety of the community has been restored.”
Thunderblanket was the suspect who allegedly shot an RCMP officer in BC on Wednesday.
Mounties say the officer was shot in the arm while police were stopping a vehicle believed to be involved in a theft near the community of Golden.
The 40-year-old is also wanted in connection with a murder and attempted murder at Little Pine First Nation, in an incident that started late Monday night.
The incident is ongoing in B.C. and police are searching an area around Revelstoke. Media reports indicate a vehicle connected to Thunderblanket was found in that area.
Police have been looking for him since the death of one person late Monday at Little Pine. Another person was also taken to hospital in serious condition.