ONION LAKE – Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes is investigating the death of 37-year-old Jesse Heathen of Onion Lake Cree Nation.
RCMP say that on Dec. 6 at approximately 6 a.m., Onion Lake RCMP received a report of gunshots on Onion Lake Cree Nation. Officers responded immediately.
Shortly after, Onion Lake RCMP received a report of a seriously injured adult male who was brought to a medical centre in Onion Lake.
Heathen was pronounced deceased by EMS at the scene. His family has been notified and victim services made available to them.
Due to the circumstances of the incident, Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes is investigating the male’s death, which is considered a homicide. Investigators are releasing the name of the victim in an effort to elicit tips from the public to help further the investigation.
Anyone with information, or who witnessed suspicious activity on Onion Lake Cree Nation on Dec. 6 between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m., is asked to report it to Saskatchewan RCMP at 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
Further updates will be provided as they become available. If an imminent risk to public safety is identified, RCMP will notify the public.
Background:
In 2023, Heathen was sentenced in Battleford Court of King’s Bench to 2,009 days, or 5.5 years for an armed car-jacking in Lloydminster and shooting on Onion Lake four years ago.
Heathen was credited 1,617 days enhanced credit for the 1,078 days he served while waiting for trial. This meant that in July 2023 he had 392 days left to serve of his 5.5-year sentence.
He was arrested in July 2020 after an armed carjacking and police chase.
It had started after Onion Lake RCMP got a call at about 5 p.m. on July 29, 2020, that a man was shot on Onion Lake. He was taken to hospital with serious non-life-threatening injuries.
Heathen and Lucas Aaron Oakes from Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation crashed their vehicle in Lloydminster and then tried carjacking two vehicles at gunpoint. They were able to steal a truck from a person.
RCMP in Alberta and Saskatchewan pursued them but called them off because of public safety concerns. Police say the vehicle drove into oncoming traffic in the westbound lanes on Hwy 16.
Two hours later, officers from Maidstone RCMP got a call about a stolen truck near the junction of Highways 16 and 303. The truck weas recovered in Lloydminster later that day and Montana Horse from Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation was arrested.
Maidstone RCMP got a report half-an-hour later that a truck was stuck near Hillmond. No one was at the vehicle when police arrived but they located Heathen and Oakes walking on a nearby road and arrested them.
In 2021 Horse was sentenced to 12-months of probation and in April 2022 Oakes was handed 7.5 years in prison.
