History of violence preceded triple homicide victim, records show
Marshall Funeral Service photo
As family and friends prepare to lay Tonio Cantell to rest on Nov. 12, public records reveal the 28-year-old from Island Lake First Nation was a known risk to the community and himself.
Cantell’s life was marked by gang violence and a long criminal history. He was recently serving a federal prison sentence of three years, five months, and 14 days for a drive-by shooting at a rival gang member’s home near Loon Lake.
According to public records, Cantell was a passenger in a vehicle when he handed a firearm to an associate, who then fired several shots into a rival’s home. A high-speed police pursuit ensued, ending when the fleeing vehicle hit a spike belt, struck two police vehicles, and nearly hit two officers before being stopped.
His statutory release was revoked multiple times. An April 2022 revocation occurred after he was found in custody with an 8.5-inch shank and had behaved inappropriately with female staff.
His release was suspended a second time after only 11 days when his parole officer found out he was involved in street gang activity and was charged with uttering threats.
Cantell reported being physically abused by his mother’s boyfriends, parole reports say. He had significant Gladue factors, including intergeneration effects of residential schools, fragmentation of his family, involvement in the child welfare system, and early exposure to substance abuse.
A wake for Cantell was held on Nov. 10 and his funeral service is scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Mudie Lake Hall in Mudie Lake, Sask.
The investigation into the triple homicide continues. RCMP have charged Madison Paddy-Jimmy, a 25-year-old woman from Thunderchild First Nation, with second-degree murder in Cantell’s death. They haven’t released the names of the other two victims, nor laid any charges.
By Crime in Canada
