Suspect in 2023 Regina homicide joins Canada's Top 25 Most Wanted
Daniel “Juma” Drie Atem, wanted in connection to a Regina homicide last summer, is now one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Wanted.
Police have been searching for Atem due to his role in a homicide committed on the 2100 block of Broad Street in the early morning hours of July 29, 2023.
Wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for first degree murder – Atem is described as around six feet three inches tall, weighing 140 pounds with a dark complexion and thin build. He has black hair and brown eyes.
A second suspect in the case, 25-year-old Shedrek Samuel, turned himself in to police in British Columbia in late February.
The announcement came in the form of a news conference in Toronto, featuring representatives from the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Crime Stoppers and the Bolo Program.
The Bolo Program is a nation-wide initiative leveraging social media, technology and other forms of engagement to encourage members of the public to be on the lookout for Canada’s most wanted suspects.
"After exhausting most all of the investigative avenues in an effort to locate and arrest Atem, we submitted our investigation to the Bolo program for their review and consideration," Investigative Services Superintendent for Regina police Trent Stevely told CTV News.
At the Toronto event, Bolo director Maxime Langlois unveiled $1 million in cash rewards – set to be awarded to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest of several most wanted suspects.
“This money does not cost you a dime. This is not police money. It is not funded by taxpayer dollars. The $1 million on the table before me is from Bolo, an initiative funded by the Stefan Cretier Foundation committed to amplifying most wanted cases in the name of safer communities,” he explained.
“This has never been done and is unprecedented.”
Toronto Crime Stoppers Chair Sean Sportun highlighted that all tips remain anonymous but all rewards have an expiry.
“So if you know where these individuals are, if you have any information that can assist the investigators involved in these cases, be empowered to come forward, speak up, break the code of silence and by doing so you’ll be making your community a safer place,” he asked.
“Let’s choose the difficult right over the easy wrong.”
Atem, who is 14th most wanted, is the second Saskatchewan suspect to make the Top 25 list – following the addition of Jonathan Ouellet-Gendron in September of 2023.
Ouellet-Gendron is currently 13th on the list and is wanted by the Saskatoon Police Service on 14 charges including first-degree murder, drug trafficking and firearms offences.
A reward of $50,000 is being offered for information on Ouellet-Gendron's whereabouts. The reward is available until Dec. 3, 2024.
There is currently no reward offered for Atem.
“So what happens is the program, they start with this as a basic first step and then they reassess," Stevely explained. "They might reassess next week, maybe next month, but they've had success just having these amplification media scrums to begin with and then they’ll assess and eventually there could be a reward for his arrest."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former U.S. president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.