Man in court on murder charge, police seek second suspect
Saskatoon police are seeking a second first-degree murder suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Brandon Baxandall last week.
Jonathan Ouellet-gendron, 33, is believed to be in possession of a firearm, police said in a news release. He is described as fivefoot-six and about 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He has several tattoos, including a Mayan statue on his right hand, a black rose on his left wrist and a gorilla on his upper torso.
Another accused man, Mohamed Abdula Ali, 35, appeared in Saskatoon provincial court on Tuesday morning, charged with first-degree murder. He remains in custody and is due back in court on June 13.
Ali also faces a charge of possessing a firearm (a handgun) while prohibited and a charge of possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Baxandall, 29, was found dead behind the building in the 700 block of Melrose Avenue by police who were responding to reports of shots fired around 4:30 p.m. on May 19. This is Saskatoon's sixth homicide of 2022.
Police had also received a report of an injured man in the 100 block of Main Street. Another injured man was reportedly taken to City Hospital.
Police confirmed Friday that all three men had been shot; the injured men are 25 and 35 years old.
On Friday, police appealed to residents of the area bordered by Saskatchewan Crescent East, Victoria Avenue, Main Street, and the Idylwyld Drive freeway to review any security camera footage recorded on Thursday between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. for signs of suspicious activity.
“(Investigators) are most interested in locating video evidence from nearby cameras that residents in the area might have to assist in determining the movements and actions of the two men that were observed fleeing the area,” a police spokesman said in an email.
Police have said “the involved parties are believed to be known to one another.”
Anyone with information on Ouellet-gendron's whereabouts is asked to avoid approaching him and call 911 or 306-975-8300.