Two people were found dead in a Peachland, B.C. home Monday night, following hours of intense police activity in what’s a usually quiet neighbourhood.
RCMP went to 6033 Garraway Pl. and set up a containment perimeter after receiving a report that someone had been killed, according to a report from the Independent Investigations Office of B.C.
“On June 27, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Kelowna RCMP received a complaint stating that a woman had received a call from her friend saying that a homicide had taken place and they were considering self-harm,” the IIO said in a release.
“Multiple attempts to reach those inside were reportedly unsuccessful,” the IIO said.
A neighbour, Peter Rintoul, watched the intense scene unfold from his home.
“It was very slow moving in the sense of we did hear some gunshots, then we didn’t and then there was nothing. We did hear them say on the loudspeaker to come out, then nothing happened,” said Rintoul.
“To happen in a small town like Peachland is pretty amazing really … especially so close is a little nerve-racking.”
At approximately 6:20 p.m., the RCMP Southeast District Emergency Response Team entered the home and located an individual dead with what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds with a weapon nearby.
“A second individual was also located deceased in the home.”
Police have not released the identities, but RCMP on scene said one of the deceased lived at the home and that both people knew each other.
Cyndy Bruyere, who lives across the street said the man who lived in the house had been there for about six years. She described him as a “quiet person.”
“This is a shock to everybody; it is very quiet here and it is a very nice place to live. I just feel bad for him, this isn’t fair to anybody,” said Bruyere.
“He was never mean to anybody or anything, he just kept to himself. He was out a lot, he liked his yard work, he was putting new fences up and he was just doing things for himself, and his son lived with him.”
They not looking for suspects and the case is being turned over to South East Division Major Crimes.
The house was surrounded by police tape Tuesday, and there were holes in the windows and signs of forced entry on the doors.
RCMP is expected to be in the area for the remainder of the day and officers are canvassing the neighbourhood.
In the meantime, B.C.’s police watchdog announced it has been notified of the incident.
The IIO BC is now investigating the incident in an effort to determine whether police actions contributed to the deaths.
As the matter is now under investigation by the IIO BC, no further information will be released by police.