Two men in their 30s killed in Mistissini shooting, community briefly locked down
Two men were found dead in a bullet-ridden vehicle in Mistissini on Jan. 28. Police say the killings appear linked to organized crime and the investigation is ongoing.
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By Torontoer Staff
Two men in their 30s were shot to death in the Cree community of Mistissini on the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 28, provincial police said. The victims were found inside a bullet-riddled vehicle after multiple reports of gunfire on Riverside Street.
Sgt. Hugues Beaulieu of the Sûreté du Québec said Thursday the deaths appear to be connected to organized crime, and that investigators are treating the incident as an isolated settlement of scores within the drug trafficking world. No arrests have been made.
What happened
Police and the Eeyou Eenou Police Force responded to multiple calls about gunshots on Riverside Street in Mistissini, a Cree community on the shore of Lake Mistassini roughly 600 kilometres northwest of Quebec City. The two local residents were transported to a nearby medical facility and pronounced dead.
Beaulieu told reporters the victims were not chosen at random and that there was no ongoing threat to the community. He cautioned that further details will depend on the course of the investigation.
It seems to be an isolated event, possibly within the context of organized crime, a kind of settling of scores in the drug trafficking world.
Sgt. Hugues Beaulieu, Sûreté du Québec
Community response and lockdown
Initial reports prompted the Cree Nation of Mistissini to announce a community-wide lockdown and the closure of public buildings and facilities. Chief Michael Petawabano later lifted the lockdown before noon on Thursday and thanked residents for their cooperation.
I want to thank our community members for their patience, co-operation, and resilience during this difficult time. Our hearts remain with the families, and we continue to stand together as a community in support of those affected by this tragedy.
Chief Michael Petawabano
Residents described a tense, sleepless night. Charlene Awashish, a lifelong resident, said she spent the night watching for updates after a friend called to warn of the shooting. She asked her son to stay inside, close curtains and lock the door, and she has since been video-calling relatives and praying.
It’s really sad to know that there’s a lot of families being affected by this.
Charlene Awashish, Mistissini resident
Official reaction and next steps
Premier François Legault said in a post to X that law enforcement and other necessary resources had been deployed to the community. He added his thoughts were with the Cree community as authorities pursue leads.
Quebec police said investigators will continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses. At this stage, no suspects have been arrested and police urged anyone with information to contact the Eeyou Eenou Police Force.
- Evening of Jan. 28: multiple reports of gunshots on Riverside Street in Mistissini.
- Victims found inside a bullet-ridden vehicle and taken to a local medical facility, where they were pronounced dead.
- Cree Nation of Mistissini announced a temporary lockdown, later lifted by Chief Michael Petawabano.
- Sûreté du Québec and Eeyou Eenou Police Force are investigating, no arrests to date.
Background
Mistissini is a Cree community on the shore of Lake Mistassini. Local policing is handled by the Eeyou Eenou Police Force, which led the initial on-site investigation, with support from the Sûreté du Québec on broader elements of the case.
This story was corrected to reflect that the shooting occurred on the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, not Thursday. The investigation remains active and police plan to release further details as they become available.
The community remains shaken as authorities continue their work. Officials asked anyone with information to contact local police to assist with the ongoing investigation.
MistissiniEeyou Eenou Police ForceSûreté du QuébecFirst NationsCrime
