By meadowlakeNOW

Family of M.L. shooting victim still waiting on many answers

Nov 15, 2017 | 5:35 PM

After a two-hour meeting with RCMP last night about the investigation surrounding 17-year-old Kegan McCallum’s shooting death, the family still has many questions about what happened.

On Monday, Nov. 13, the youth was shot at a home on Meadow Lake’s west side, and died of his wounds later in hospital.

The family initially found out the news from passersby that morning, and were told by RCMP later that overall public safety was the top priority at the time as the shooter was at large, and believed to be armed and dangerous. To date, it’s still unclear whether or not the male was apprehended.

McCallum’s aunt Amber Barthel said the family members are devastated and reeling from the loss of Keegan, but feeling a bit more supported by RCMP after the initial meeting.

“They were able to answer what they could, but couldn’t say a whole lot more, as they might jeopardize the investigation,” she said. “They do have a person of interest, that’s about all they can really say. It did help a bit, because we didn’t have that type of contact with the RCMP since it happened.”

SIGA

SIGA and Northern Lights Casino main sponsors of the 31st PAGC Fine Arts Festival

1h ago

Workplace incident

City of Prince Albert pleads guilty to workplace safety violation, handed fines

3h ago

ACAC bound

North Stars' Medernach talks commitment to NAIT Ooks

6h ago

His mother Leianne Barthel said the family was told his body would be transported to Meadow Lake tomorrow afternoon.

“He gets released from Saskatoon hospital and goes straight to the funeral home from there,” she said.

“On Thursday I think we’ll have more answers as to what exactly happened,” Amber said. “We know he got shot, but [RCMP] can’t even tell us how many times [he was] shot. I was trying to ask the cops too, was it meant for Kegan? They can’t tell us anything [yet], but there were other people in the house and he was the only one who got shot. It’s all just waiting game.”

It had already been a rough few months for the family, who almost lost Kegan in July from a separate incident. Family members said the teen was at a party when he had his drink spiked with drugs. Kegan overdosed and had to be airlifted to hospital in Saskatoon where he was placed in a medically-induced coma.

“It was a miracle, he came out of it 100 per cent…. he even said [to me] ‘I was given a second chance, auntie’ and that was only a few months ago,” Amber said with tears welling in her eyes.

His aunt and mother remember Kegan as gentle and sweet soul who loved his family.

“He had no problem telling all of us I love you,” Amber said. “Even when that kid did that to him back in July, he let it be, he didn’t try to have it out for anybody. This one guy kept bugging Kegan. Three days before Kegan died, he got robbed by the same guy that had [overdosed] him. We were kind of wondering if he didn’t have something to do with it.”

“He always happy, had lots of friends,” his mother Leianne added. “He just kept quiet he didn’t want nothing happening to him.”

Both women said they feel Meadow Lake has become less safe over the last number of years, due to what they believe to be an increase in gang activity.

“This used to be a nice city where you could go out and do whatever, now you can’t even walk out of your door,” Leianne said. “I think [his death] was gang-related. I’m pretty sure it was.”

Leianne and Amber said the family is keeping one another close, and they’re trying to ignore speculation and stories right now.

“We’re trying to take it easy and let the RCMP do their work,” Amber said.

She said the family is planning on offering a generous reward for information leading to the arrest in this case.  

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath