Penticton shootings: John Brittain charged with murder following B.C. shooting spree

John Brittain has been charged following a shooting spree in Penticton that claimed four lives on Monday, the BC Prosecution Service has confirmed.

Brittain has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder.

The incident prompted a massive police response, in which officers asked people to stay out of a large area of downtown Penticton.

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RCMP Supt. Ted De Jager said the victims were two men and two women in their 60s and 70s.

He said the victims and the shooter knew one another. Police have not identified any of the victims, but family members have identified one of them as Penticton resident Rudi Winter.

Winter’s nephew said his uncle may have been killed because of a grudge by a former neighbour.

Neighbours have confirmed the other victims are Susan and Barry Wonch, and Darlene Knippelberg.

The City of Penticton confirmed Tuesday that Brittain was an employee with the city from 2011 to 2016.

Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki said Brittain worked for several years in the city’s engineering department.

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“He was a gentle man. He did his job well,” said Vassilaki, who was on city council when Brittain worked for the city.

“Other than that I couldn’t tell you anything more about their personal lives or anything like that.”

WATCH: Police searching for motive after four killed in Penticton

1:32 Police searching for motive after four killed in Penticton

Vassilaki said he was shocked and saddened by news of the shooting.

“Things like that don’t normally happen in Penticton.”

Ecora Engineering confirmed Brittain is a part-time civil engineer at the company’s Penticton office.

“Everybody is shocked” says Ecora Chairman and Chief Operating Officer Dan Bernier said.

Police initially said the accused is 60 years old, but later clarified that he is 68.

Brittain appeared in court on Tuesday. He will be held in custody at the Okanagan Correctional Centre until his next court appearance on May 8.

— With files from Simon Little, Shelby Thom and Nadia Stewart