Two people are dead following a shooting at a Nanaimo B.C. mill Wednesday morning.
Four men were shot after a man arrived at the Western Forest Products Mill on Nanaimo’s Assembly Wharf just before 7 a.m. and opened fire. That man, a 47-year-old Nanaimo resident and former employee of the mill, was arrested shortly after but he has not been identified.
Statement from Nanaimo RCMP Detachment Commander Supt. Mark Fisher:
At 6:58 am this morning, Nanaimo RCMP received multiple 9-1-1 calls about shots being fired at the Western Forest Products Mill in Nanaimo.
Multiple police officers immediately responded, including Emergency Response Team members, with the first officer arriving three minutes after the 9-1-1 call came in.
A lone male suspect was arrested without incident a few minutes later by an Emergency Response Team member. Police officers also quickly worked to search the entire building for additional threats, and injured victims. No other suspects were found.
I want to stress that at this time we have no indication that there are any other suspects involved in this incident. At this time it also appears the suspect, now in custody, acted alone. Early indications are that there may be a connection between the suspect and the company. The suspect is 47 years old and a resident of Nanaimo.
Four individuals received gunshot injuries and were transported to hospital by paramedics. Tragically, I can confirm that two of those people have died from their injuries. My sympathies, and that of all us at the Nanaimo RCMP, go out to the families and loved ones of all the victims.
Please understand that at this point we are only five hours into this investigation – we are still gathering information and reaching out to the families of those involved. We need to be respectful of their needs, and mindful that we provide them with accurate information – to the extent that this is possible.
The families and mill employees will now have to cope with the tragedy that unfolded here today. As does the community of Nanaimo. It’s going to be a challenge, but as detachment commander, and a long-time resident of Vancouver Island, I can confirm this type of violence is extremely rare.
The very active and complex investigation into this morning`s shooting is being led by the Nanaimo RCMP Serious Crime Unit, with support from our Forensic Identification Section, as well as plain clothed and uniform officers. Our Victim Services are also engaged.
I am now mindful of the fact that we have a suspect in custody. I do not want to do or say anything that will jeopardize the court process as we move forward. Therefore I ask for your patience, as I will not be able to provide much additional information at this time.
Supt. Mark Fisher
Officer in Charge
Nanaimo RCMP
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