News release

One in custody after shooting at Inuvik Airport

September 22, 2025 - Inuvik, Northwest Territories
From: Northwest Territories RCMP

Content

One person has been taken into custody after a shooting at the airport in Inuvik.

On September 20th at approximately 1:04 p.m. officers received a report that a 58-year-old woman had been shot outside the airport. The suspect then fled the scene in a pickup truck.

Officers attended the scene where the victim was receiving first aid from bystanders. She was taken to hospital by ambulance shortly after.

A public alert was issued for the region advising residents to shelter in place as officers worked to locate the suspect. The Dempster Highway and Mackenzie Ferry were temporarily closed.

At approximately 1:55 p.m. officers received a report that a pickup truck matching the description of suspect’s vehicle had struck six people on the Dempster highway.

Officers located and arrested the suspect without incident in a clearing near the Dempster Highway shortly after 5:00 p.m. The suspected firearm and pickup truck were recovered.
21-year-old Maverick Elias of Tuktoyaktuk has been charged with:

• Attempted murder with a firearm, contrary to section 239(a) of the Criminal Code
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm, contrary to section 91(1) of the Criminal Code
• Pointing a firearm, contrary to section 87(1) of the Criminal Code
• Aggravated assault, contrary to section 268(2) of the Criminal Code
• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, contrary to section 320.13(1) of the Criminal Code
• (6 counts) Assault with a weapon, contrary to section 267(a) of the Criminal Code

He appeared before a Justice of the Peace and was remanded into custody.

The victims in these incidents are reported to be in stable condition. The shooting victim and suspect were known to each other however the victims of the vehicle collision were not known to the suspect.

The investigation is ongoing at this time. Support is being provided by G Division Forensic Identification Section, the Major Crimes Unit, and a Collision Analyst.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Inuvik Detachment at 867-777-1111 or Crimestoppers at https://p3tips.com

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