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Suspect arrested, firearm still missing after man found hurt on side of Nanaimo, B.C. highway

RCMP temporarily shut down a section of Nanaimo Parkway after a man was found with life threatening gunshot wounds on the side of the road on Aug. 1, 2022.

Nanaimo Mounties have arrested a suspect after a man was found with life-threatening gunshot wounds on the side of a highway and taken to hospital on Monday.

Several motorists reported a man lying on the west side of the Nanaimo Parkway near Northfield Road around 3:30 p.m. Witnesses provided emergency first aid until paramedics arrived and took the man to hospital. He was later airlifted to Victoria for treatment, police said.

Police were able to identify a suspect and a 48-year-old man was arrested 20 minutes later. Police say he is expected to be formally charged on Tuesday.

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On Tuesday, police executed a search warrant at an encampment where the suspect lives. Investigators found more evidence, but have not yet found the firearm they believe was used in the shooting.

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Police are asking the public to be on the lookout for a sawed-off shotgun that may be in the area of Boxwood Road and Northfield. Anyone who finds it should not touch it and contact either 911 or the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.

One lane of the highway near the Northfield intersection was closed for several hours while police examined the scene and searched for forensic evidence. It has since reopened.

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