Const. Christopher John Worden Tribute

From TheStar.com:

Const. Christopher Worden, 30, of Ottawa, had been responding to a call for police assistance at a residence at about 5 a.m. on Saturday when his radio went dead.

Two colleagues went looking for him and found him in a wooded area near a residence suffering from gunshot wounds. They rushed him to hospital, where he died.

Up to 70 RCMP from the N.W.T. and Alberta scoured the town and surrounding area for the gunman.

Mounties set up roadblocks on Saturday on the main highway and were checking vehicles and passengers on the Yellowknife ferry.

Grieving residents marked Worden's death with prayers in the community's four churches.

Pastor Vivian Smith of the Anglican Church said that prayers for Worden and his family began as soon as people heard of his death.

"The prayers are continuing and will continue. They are sombre services," Smith said on Sunday.

"It is supposed to be Thanksgiving day for us but we don't feel like it is a day of Thanksgiving."

Smith said the town of 3,600 is a close-knit community and Worden's death has affected people terribly. He is survived by his wife Jody and an eight-month-old daughter Alexis.

In a news release, RCMP said that Worden's family had requested privacy "as they come to grips with this tragedy." Funeral arrangements were pending.

Residents of Hay River said they are in shock that something so terrible could happen in their midst.

Word of his death prompted people to bring flowers to the Hay River RCMP detachment building.

"Our hearts hurt as well for the community," Middleton said. ``In the North the word family takes in a lot of people."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been touched by this tragedy."