Clayton Mandes Junior expressed regret and stated that he should have been the one who lost his life instead of his friend, Denzel Cameron, who he unintentionally shot. Mandes, aged 22, made these remarks during his sentencing hearing at the provincial court circuit point in Beardy’s, approximately 80 kilometers northeast of Saskatoon. He had admitted guilt to manslaughter in the death of Cameron, aged 28, who passed away on September 14, 2024, at a residence in Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation.
According to the court proceedings, Cameron and Mandes were socializing and drinking when Cameron retrieved a sawed-off .22 after the house received threatening messages. The two men were playfully handling the gun in the kitchen, not realizing that Cameron had loaded a bullet into it. When Mandes pointed the gun and pulled the trigger, it discharged, fatally hitting Cameron in the head.
During the sentencing, Crown prosecutor David Piche presented statements from witnesses at the scene, including Cameron’s girlfriend, who described the incident as tragic. She recounted her reaction to the gunshot, rushing back inside to find Cameron on the floor and Mandes appearing shocked. Mandes fled the scene barefoot and was apprehended shortly afterward.
The Crown and defense recommended a four-year prison term for Mandes, the mandatory minimum sentence for manslaughter with a firearm. Piche emphasized the unintentional nature of the shooting, highlighting that it was not intentional. Victim impact statements from Cameron’s family members reflected the profound impact of his loss, especially considering the recent passing of his mother. Judge Lua Gibb accepted the joint sentencing recommendation, acknowledging the irreplaceable void left by Cameron’s death in his family and community.