North Okanagan shooting leaves one dead; RCMP arrest suspect

A man was arrested in Armstrong on Monday after a shooting that left one person dead.

Just after 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 20, Vernon/North Okanagan Rural RCMP received a report of a possible shooting and an associated vehicle fleeing the area, RCMP said in a press release.

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Mounties searched the area and found a body in the 4500 block of Back Enderby Road in Spallumcheen.

“A continued search coordinated by RCMP Air Services and supported by the Southeast District Emergency Response Team and Vernon/North Okanagan officers resulted in locating the vehicle,” said Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet of the B.C. RCMP in a press release.

“Shortly after, one man was located and arrested near Armstrong and taken into custody. In the process of the search and arrest, one police vehicle was damaged by the suspect vehicle. Fortunately, no injuries resulted.”

The Southeast District Major Crime Unit has assumed conduct of the investigation.

The identity and further details regarding the deceased person will not be released pending further investigation and notification of next of kin.

“At this time, we believe that the man arrested and the deceased person were known to each other and there is no ongoing threat to public safety,” Shoihet said.

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In an interview with Global News, Shoihet said no charges have been laid, but the suspect is in custody.

“At this point, we aren’t seeking any other suspects,” said B.C. RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet.

“However, if you are a witness to the event, we are asking that you do call the Vernon RCMP to report that.”

Asked if a weapon was recovered, Shoihet said police weren’t in a position to release that information, but noted that “the initial call was related to a shooting.”

Shoihet also said during the course of the arrest, the man tried to evade capture and backed into a police vehicle. The suspect was then arrested a short distance away.