Earl Ballantyne was arrested on August 8. He was previously wanted for various weapons and violence charges. (RCMP/supplied)

By Susan McNeil

Officer involved shooting

Bail hearings set for next week for Deschambault Lake pair

Aug 11, 2025 | 11:55 AM

A man and woman arrested in Deschambault Lake following a shooting incident with RCMP that saw another man killed, have had bail hearings set.

Earl Ballantyne and Sherri Custer will be back in front of a judge on August 18 in Pelican Narrows Provincial Court.

Ballantyne’s new charges were read out in court as he sat in a detention room in Pelican Narrows, appearing by video.

On July 23, 2025, he is alleged to have assaulted a victim with a baseball bat, unlawfully confined the victim, uttered threats to cause death and stole an iPhone 16. He also allegedly had a gun that he was not licensed for at the time.

On August 8, the day of the Deschambault Lake shooting, Ballantyne is charged that he recklessly fired a gun, was in possession of a modified .22 gun that is prohibited and he was holding the weapon while banned from possessing them.

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Sherri Custer is not on a joint information with Ballantyne but faces similar charges, naming the same victim.

Her charges on July 23 also involve using a baseball bat to assault the victim, unlawful confinement and stealing an iPhone 16.

From August 8, her sole charge is breaching an undertaking to not communicate with Earl Ballantyne.

The Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the man who was with Ballantyne and Custer on August 8.

So far, details in the incident in Deschambeault Lake are few.

RCMP officers encountered five people in a wooded area near the community the morning of August 8.

A confrontation happened between the two officers and a man in the group that resulted in the officers shooting their weapons, hitting the man.

Despite providing immediate medical care, the man died at the scene. Police later seized a gun and several replica firearms.

On July 25, RCMP had issued a public notice following an assault at a home in the community, asking for the public to report sightings of Earl Ballantyne. Six people were arrested at the time, including Ballantyne and Custer.

Also arrested at the time were Tyler Ballantyne, Stephan Ballantyne, Zachary Ballantyne, Raeanna Michel, Sherri Custer and Sharona Custer along with a teen girl.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social