Police say a man was found dead in a vehicle and officers have made an arrest in a daytime shooting that prompted a warning and a provincial alert.
Saint John Police Force said on Tuesday at around 10:28 a.m., officers responded to reports of shots fired in the area of Carmarthen Street and King Street East, near King Square.
Officers found a 20-year-old man dead inside a vehicle, police said.
Three male suspects were seen leaving the area on foot, investigators said.
A photo of the three alleged suspects was released by police.
A short time later, police announced that they had one man in custody, but didn’t say if the person arrested was one of the people in the photo.
“Based on the current information police have, we believe this to be an isolated incident,” an updated statement at 2:45 reads.
The incident prompted Saint John Police Force to issue a warning on X for the public in the are to “shelter in place.” A short time later, the New Brunswick RCMP issued an Alert Ready message on behalf of the police force.
Police said in its mid-afternoon update that the alert had been lifted.
Andy J. O’Dea, who lives nearby the scene, described the moment police descended into the area.
“I hear a bunch of sirens and everything coming by … I look out the window and it’s just everything is blocked off, they got police tape, and I didn’t get the notification that anything had happened until like an hour after,” he said.
Schools in the area were also placed into lockdown, as a precautionary measure, police said.
Phoenix Wright, a high school student, told Global News he was concerned about his little brother’s safety.
“I heard from my buddy that there was a shooter and the school’s on lockdown, and I was terrified because my little brother was in the school and I had no idea if he was okay or not or how to contact him. It was very nerve-wracking,” he said.
Police are asking anyone with information or video to contact them.
“The Saint John Police sends our condolences to the family and friends of the victim at this most difficult time,” the force said.