Canada

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Sawyer Clarke Robison, 27, is shown in an RCMP handout photo. RCMP confirm one man has been found dead in a rural Alberta house that had been surrounded after two Mounties were shot. Sgt. Patrick Webb says a search is on for Robison, who was seen leaving the property Tuesday before the officers were hit. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Alberta RCMP

KILLAM, Alta. - RCMP confirm one man has been found dead in a rural Alberta house where two Mounties were shot.

Sgt. Patrick Webb says a search is on for a 27-year-man seen leaving the property Tuesday when four Mounties from the detachment in Killam were on the scene.

Webb says Sawyer Clarke Robison could be armed and dangerous, and should be considered a high risk. Members of the public should not approach him.

Police had said Tuesday that the public was not at risk.

Robison is not a suspect but is considered a person of interest.

Webb explained why there were so many officers at the house Tuesday afternoon and overnight — and why they didn't enter right away.

"Last night, to the best of our information, he was still in that residence. It's only with our entry today and with more examination in the daylight and more details we were able to determine he was not there," he said.

"Once we knew who the people involved were, and once we knew there was some very significant weapons involved, we had to be extremely careful that we weren't walking into a situation that would put more members at risk."

The two Mounties suffered significant injuries to their torsos, but are recovering after surgery. Police have identified them as Cst. Sheldon Shah and Cst. Sidney Gaudette from the Killam detachment.

Webb says police are trying to determine how the dead man was killed. He has not been identified.

Sawyer may be driving a black 2000 Chevrolet Silverado with Alberta licence plate number UZE 245.

The two injured officers have both undergone surgery and are recovering in hospital in Edmonton.