Pair will stay in jail after being charged in Summerside weapon incident

A man and woman will stay in custody after a weekend incident involving a weapon that prompted Summerside police to charge one of the accused with attempted murder.

A legal aid lawyer representing Andre Kimball Gotell and Kayla Emily Sonier, both 32, appeared in provincial court briefly Monday.

Gotell is charged with attempted murder and seven other weapons-related offences, according to court records. Sonier faces four weapons-related charges, including pointing a firearm.

After telling the judge there was a lot of material involved with the case, their lawyer was granted adjournments for both of the accused. Sonier is due back in court Wednesday and Gotell is set to appear in a couple of weeks.

The pair was arrested Saturday afternoon, after police had issued an emergency alert asking residents in the area of Spring and Convent streets to stay indoors.

Police said they were first made aware something was going on at about 7:50 a.m., when a report came in saying a firearm had been discharged during a disturbance at a residence on Spring Street.

The home where the incident took place is well known to police, said Jason Blacquiere, deputy chief of Summerside Police Services. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

"When [there are] firearms involved, or the indications that firearms are involved, there's always risk," said Jason Blacquiere, deputy chief of Summerside Police Services.

"That's why we used negotiators and an emergency response team to make the arrest at the location."

Shortly after 2 p.m., crisis negotiators from Summerside Police Services and P.E.I. RCMP were able to make contact with the suspect and negotiate his surrender. A 65-year-old woman was also taken into custody but was later released.

The person who was the target of the alleged attempted murder was not injured in the incident, police said.

Police believe the three people arrested are all known to one another, and said the victim was not randomly targeted.

Saranya and Anuraj Kumar live nearby with their young son. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

Police said they're still in the early stages of their investigation, gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses to try and piece together exactly what happened.

Reflecting back on Monday, neighbour Lucy Mitchell said she was relieved it all ended quickly.

"I never thought that would ever happen, never, not in a million years," she said.

Saranya Kumar was among nearby residents who felt the whole thing was a little surreal.

"These scenes, I have seen in the movies only," said Kumar. "Initially, we felt scared.  After that, we felt [secure] because of all the cops still here. So we feel that security."