Heartbroken family anxious for answers after teen’s death

Kegan McCallum’s loved ones are struggling to accept how suddenly the 17-year-old’s life came to an end.

“It would be different if he was sick and he left us, but he was taken from us,” said a tearful Leianne Barthel, his mother.

“It’s heartbreaking, very devastating. Part of our life is gone. I just hope they can catch the people who did this to my boy.”

Police on Wednesday were continuing to search for a person of interest described as armed and dangerous.

RCMP said the Meadow Lake detachment responded to a call Monday around 10:30 a.m. about a 17-year-old who had suffered what were believed to gunshot wounds at a home in the community. McCallum was rushed to hospital by EMS, where he was pronounced dead.

The person of interest is described as 5-foot-8 and weighing 102 pounds, wearing a grey Burton brand hat, glasses, a red hoodie with black writing and black Adidas brand track pants.

Barthel said McCallum was “a boisterous little 17-year-old boy. Never had a problem with nobody. He was just full of life. Every time you saw him there was a smile on his face.”

Several civic facilities in Meadow Lake were shut down on Monday after RCMP announced that a “serious incident” had taken place and that a search was underway for the person of interest. Meadow Lake city manager Diana Burton said the city locked down its aquatic centre, arena and water treatment plant.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Northwest School Division said it understands “that some students may need extra support at school.”

The division made counsellors available to students. It also noted that it has been communicating with RCMP and works closely with police “whenever an incident occurs that may impact our school community.” The school division also shared on its Facebook page several information sheets about signs of trauma to look for in children following a traumatic event.

Meadow Lake RCMP and the RCMP major crime unit north, as well as the provincial coroner and RCMP general investigation and forensic sections, are investigating.

Meadow Lake is located approximately 300 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.