RCMP exchange gunfire with suspect in Tatamagouche after woman found dead

RCMP exchanged gunfire and wounded a man in Tatamagouche, N.S.,this morning after officers found a woman dead at a home about 10 kilometres outside the village.

Late last night,ColchesterRCMPwere called to a home on Clarks Road in Bayhead.RCMP Sgt. Al LeBlanc said officers found thewoman's body. The death is suspicious, RCMP said.

Officers followed a 49-year-old suspect who had driven away, LeBlanc said, and a short time later found him nearLockerby Memorial Cemetery on Highway 6 inTatamagouche.

According to LeBlanc, officers spoke with the man, who was inside his vehicle when gunfire was exchanged. The man was wounded andtaken to hospital for treatment. Heremains in police custody. LeBlanc didn't know theextent of his injuries. No officers were hurt.

RCMP have set up barricades and have officers throughout part of Tatamagouche while they continue looking for evidence.

The Serious Incident Response Team, which saidthe woman's death is a homicide, has beencalled in to investigate the shooting that wounded suspect. The teaminvestigates all serious incidents involving police, regardless of whether there are allegations of wrongdoing.

SIRT spokesperson Ron MacDonald said "for some hours there had been discussion between police and the man."

'She always had a smile on her face'

Police have not released the name of the woman who died and CBC News is not identifying her until her next of kin are notified.

However, Johnny Smiley fromTatamagoucheworked with the woman. He said waking up to find out she had died was a big blow.

"I was in complete shock, likesick to my stomach."

He said the womanwas a pleasure to be around.

"She always had a smile on her face, bubbly, always a, 'Good morning, how are you?'There was never a down day or nothing.... She was always a bubbly, happy person."

Smiley said the woman's death will hit the community.

"Not every day something like this happens. I think a lot of people are going to come together," said Smiley.

Police saidthere was no risk to public safety.

Route 6 was blocked off near where it meets Route 311, going to River John.

TatamagoucheElementary and North Colchester High School were closed Monday.