Nunavut RCMP lay charges related to suspicious death in Rankin Inlet

On July 17, there was a diesel fuel spill at the power plant in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. (Juanita Taylor/CBC - image credit)

A Nunavut man has been charged with murder in relation to a suspicious death in Rankin Inlet on June 7.

RCMP charged Jack Ekwalak, 43, with first-degree murder on June 8.

Police had issued a shelter-in-place alert Friday morning and posted a Facebook notice advising people to stay away from the shooting range.

RCMP said in a news release that police found the Ekwalak near the range, just outside the community. He initially refused to surrender to police until RCMP crisis negotiators spoke with him and brought him under arrest.

In an emailed statement, RCMP thanked the community for its patience and co-operation during the investigation and extended condolences to the victim's family.