Man accused of 2nd-degree murder told police victim shot himself, Brandon court hears

A 43-year-old Sioux Valley Dakota Nation man on trial for second-degree murder told police the 21-year-old he is accused of killing shot himself, a Brandon, Man., court heard Thursday.

Jeremy John Blacksmith has pleaded not guilty in the August 2023 shooting death of 21-year-old Blaze Tacan, who was also from the southwestern Manitoba Dakota Nation.

Blacksmith is also charged with two other weapons offences.

Another person, who was 17 at the time, was also arrested in connection with the homicide but cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

On the afternoon of Aug. 5, 2023, Virden RCMP were called to Sioux Valley with reports of a shooting. Tacan was found and taken to hospital, where he later died.

On Thursday, during the fourth day of Blacksmith's trial at Court of King's Bench in Brandon, a two-hour video statement he gave the day after the shooting was played.

Blacksmith painted the victim as a bully, telling RCMP investigator Mark Walker he had seen Tacan flash what he said was a firearm in the waistband of his pants.

When the questioning began, Walker asked Blacksmith why he thought he was brought into the Virden RCMP detachment.

As the interview continued, Blacksmith described the day of the shooting and stated that he had "nothing to do with this."

"Who shot Blaze?" Walker asked, to which Blacksmith answered, "He shot himself."

Walker continued to question Blacksmith, saying he didn’t believe Tacan shot himself.

"We're talking to everyone in the community, and you were seen shooting Blaze," Walker said.

"I didn’t shoot him, that’s for sure," Blacksmith answered.

Shotgun found wrapped up in sweater: RCMP

A witness who testified earlier this week said she saw Tacan arguing with the then 17-year-old accused. Blacksmith arrived after the youth yelled for him.

Blacksmith fired a gun once, according to the witness, who described how Tacan fell back on the ground.

Another witness testified he saw Blacksmith grab something and shoot Tacan.

Court also heard that one of the responding RCMP officers found a sawed-off shotgun on the ground, wrapped in a red and black sweater.

Virden RCMP officer Const. Tirrell Lukye, who was one of the first officers on scene after the 911 call came in, also testified on Thursday morning.

Lukye told court that when he heard a police dog had found an item, he went to take photos.

"I brushed away the brush and the branches that were on top of it, the grass, taking pictures throughout," Lukye said.

"Then I opened up the sweater and there was a shotgun inside of the sweater."

The only other Crown witness on Thursday was a trace evidence forensic specialist working with the RCMP who testified online from Ontario.

Loli Huang, who does examinations, analysis and interpretations of gunshot residue, was sent samples from the hands and faces of Blacksmith and the youth.

Huang told court that gunshot residue was found on their hands, but not on their faces.

The judge-only trial before Justice Elliot Leven continues on Friday, and is expected to wrap at the end of next week.