Penticton, B.C., RCMP say four people are dead after a string of fatal shootings in three locations Monday morning.

South Okanagan-Similkameen Supt. Ted De Jager says a 68-year-old man who is a resident of Penticton has been taken into custody after he turned himself in at the front desk of the Penticton RCMP detachment.

Police have confirmed they believe that all the people involved were known to each other and that "it was a targeted event."

De Jager said in a press conference on Monday afternoon that the victims are two adult males and two adult females. He said charges are pending.

At around 10:30 a.m. PT, police were called to downtown Penticton, in the area of Westminster Avenue and Haynes Street, for a report that a man had been shot.

Three people were killed on Cornwall Avenue during the shooting spree. RCMP's Penticton South Okanagan-Similkameen regional general investigation section has taken the lead on the investigation. (Dominika Lirette/CBC)

As officers were en route, they received a second call reporting that another person had been shot. A man matching the description of the suspect turned himself in about one hour later, at 11:30 a.m. Police also seized a vehicle believed to be the suspect's, which was parked in the police parking lot.

Officers conducted a sweep of the area and found there were several victims at multiple locations. The four fatalities occurred in three locations within a five-kilometre radius.

RCMP had previously asked everyone to avoid downtown Penticton and remain indoors, but have since lifted those restrictions. (Simon Charland/CBC)

One person died at the initial incident near Westminster Avenue and Lakeview Street, while three people died "in a suburban area" around Cornwall Drive.

"I understand this is a deeply troubling incident that has taken place in our community," said De Jager.

"Police are continuing to look for anyone else who may have been injured in the course of this incident."

He says police are working to identify the victims and inform their families.

No ongoing danger to public

On Monday afternoon the Southeast District emergency response team was deployed near Skaha Lake Road and Yorkton Avenue for an unfolding incident.

Police determined it was not linked to the morning shootings, and have resolved the incident.

RCMP had previously asked everyone to avoid downtown Penticton and remain indoors, but have since lifted those restrictions.

The crime scene is now limited to the 2400 block of Cornwall Drive and the 400 block of Heales Avenue near Lakeview Street.

In the press conference, De Jager said there is no longer any danger to the community.

"We want to reassure the public that we're there for them at this time. Although this is a very dark day for Penticton, the brightness in the community is how everybody stepped up," he said.

'4 or 5' pops heard: witness

Shelly Halvorson was in her office at J & E Automotive Services when she heard "four or five" pops.

"I thought it was our tire machine," said Halvorson. "I didn't think anything more of it."

This is a little too close. I've never experienced this. I'm not comfortable at all. - Shelly Halvorson , witness

Within minutes, she said, police vehicles swarmed the area.

She says she went outside and saw a man lying on his front lawn, at which point, police told everyone to go back inside their homes and businesses.

"This is a little too close. I've never experienced this," she said. "I'm not comfortable at all."

The RCMP's Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen regional general Investigation section has taken the lead on the investigation. Additional resources from the RCMP's Southeast District, including Investigators from the Southeast District Major Crime Unit, have been called in to assist.

Penticton is a city in the Okanagan Valley of the Southern Interior of British Columbia with a population of about 30,000.</s>A 60-year-old man was arrested after allegedly killing four people in a “targeted” series of shootings on Monday, the police in British Columbia said.

The gunman, who the authorities had not named as of Tuesday morning, killed two men and two women in three locations within about three miles of each other in the city of Penticton, said Ted De Jager, superintendent of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The first shooting was reported at 10:30 a.m., and the suspect had turned himself in by 11:30 a.m., he said.

The victims were not identified, pending notification of their families. But the police said they believed the gunman knew all of the victims.

“While the investigation remains active and ongoing, we do believe this was a targeted incident,” Mr. De Jager said at a news conference on Monday.</s>A 60-year-old man was arrested after allegedly killing four people in a “targeted” series of shootings Monday, police in British Columbia said.

The gunman, who authorities had not named as of Tuesday morning, killed two men and two women in three locations within about 3 miles of each other in the city of Penticton, said Ted De Jager, superintendent of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The first shooting was reported at 10:30 a.m., and the suspect had turned himself in by 11:30 a.m., he said.

The victims were not identified, pending notification of their families. But police said they believed the gunman knew all of the victims.

“While the investigation remains active and ongoing, we do believe this was a targeted incident,” De Jager said Monday.

The shooting was the deadliest on record in Penticton, a city of about 34,000 about a 4½-hour drive from Vancouver. Throughout the province, mass shootings are rare: It was only the fifth shooting in British Columbia that killed more than four people. The last such shooting was in 1996, according to Penticton Western News.

Gun owners in Canada must be licensed. Before a license is granted, officials check the buyer’s past for any violent crimes or behavior, crimes involving firearms or violent episodes related to mental illness in the preceding five years.

Handguns, semi-automatic and automatic weapons must be registered with the federal government, but lawmakers eliminated a national registry of rifles and shotguns in 2012.

Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proposed expanding the background review to the licensee’s entire lifetime while resuming the record-keeping for some rifle and shotgun sales, prompting a fierce pushback from some gun owners.

The national long-gun registry, introduced in 1995 in response to a mass shooting of students in Montreal, was unpopular in rural areas but supported by police. Lawmakers in Quebec voted in 2016 to create the province’s own registry, over the protests of gun owners.

Debates over gun laws heated up in Canada last year after a shooting in Toronto killed two people and wounded 13 others in July. In response, the city council suggested the federal government ban handgun sales in the city, while the Montreal City Council called for a national ban on the weapons.</s>Canadian police say a 60-year-old man is in custody after four targeted shootings that killed two men and two women in the city of Penticton, British Columbia.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Supt. Ted De Jager says the suspect and the four victims knew each other but gave no details.

"Police have determined four people are deceased at three locations within a 5 km (3.1 mile) radius," the RCMP said in a statement.

"A man matching the suspect's description turned himself into the Penticton RCMP detachment. The man remains in custody while the investigation progresses. Preliminary indications are this was a targeted incident," the statement said.

The initial shooting incident was reported at 10:30 a.m. local time. As police were en route to the scene, a second shooting was reported.

A motive for the shootings was still unknown.

"Determining why this occurred is part of our ongoing investigation," De Jager said.

"I understand that this is a deeply troubling incident that has taken place in our community. Our hearts and thoughts are with all those impacted by this terribly tragic incident," he added.</s>Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers attend a shooting scene on Cornwall Drive, during a series of attacks in which four people were shot dead, in Penticton, British.

OTTAWA - Four people were shot dead in Penticton, British Columbia, on Monday and a suspect is in custody, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said in a statement.

"Police have determined four people are deceased at three locations within a 5 km (3.1 mile) radius," the statement said.

"A man matching the suspect's description turned himself into the Penticton RCMP detachment. The man remains in custody while the investigation progresses. Preliminary indications are this was a targeted incident," the statement said.

The initial shooting incident was reported at 10:30 a.m. local time (1730 GMT). As police were en route to the scene, a second shooting was reported.

The suspect in both shootings turned himself in about an hour after the first report, police said.

A motive for the shootings was still unknown.

"Determining why this occurred is part of our ongoing investigation," said RCMP regional commander Ted De Jager.

"I understand that this is a deeply troubling incident that has taken place in our community. Our hearts and thoughts are with all those impacted by this terribly tragic incident," he added.</s>PENTICTON, B.C. — RCMP say four people were found dead Monday in three locations within a five-kilometre radius in Penticton, B.C.

Supt. Ted De Jager said a lone male suspect turned himself in at the city's police headquarters.

The four people who died were shot and the victims were targeted, he said.

"We're still trying to find the motive for this whole incident, so that's part of the ongoing investigation."

De Jager said Mounties received a call about a possible shooting in the downtown at about 10:30 a.m. and the suspect was taken into custody about an hour later.

Earlier, police cordoned off the city's downtown and were telling people to avoid the area because of a serious, unfolding situation.

They asked the public to follow the direction of police and to avoid areas bordered by Eckhardt Avenue, Lakeshore Drive, and Main and Power streets.

"I understand that this is a deeply troubling incident that has taken place in our community," De Jager told a news conference.

He said one person was found dead in the north end of the city; the three others were found in the south end.

De Jager said an emergency response team was deployed to another place in the city, but police had not determined whether it was related to the shootings.</s>PENTICTON, British Columbia (AP) — Canadian police say a 60-year-old man is in custody after four targeted shootings that killed two men and two women in the city of Penticton, British Columbia. Royal Canadian Mounted…

PENTICTON, British Columbia (AP) — Canadian police say a 60-year-old man is in custody after four targeted shootings that killed two men and two women in the city of Penticton, British Columbia.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Supt. Ted De Jager says the suspect and the four victims knew each other but gave no details. He says the suspect turned himself in after Monday’s shooting.

Such gun violence is rare in Canada.

Police say they received a call about a possible shooting in downtown Penticton about 10:30 a.m. De Jager says one person was found dead in the north end and the three others were found in the south end.

Copyright © 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.</s>OTTAWA: Four people where shot dead in Penticton, British Colombia, on Monday (Apr 15) and a suspect is in custody, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said in a statement.

"Police have determined four people are deceased at three locations within a 5km radius," the statement said.

"A man matching the suspect's description turned himself into the Penticton RCMP detachment. The man remains in custody while the investigation progresses. Preliminary indications are this was a targeted incident," the statement said.

The initial shooting incident was reported at 10.30am local time (1730 GMT). As police were en route to the scene, a second shooting was reported.

The suspect in both shootings turned himself in about an hour after the first report, police said.

A motive for the shootings was still unknown.

"Determining why this occurred is part of our ongoing investigation," said RCMP regional commander Ted De Jager.

"I understand that this is a deeply troubling incident that has taken place in our community. Our hearts and thoughts are with all those impacted by this terribly tragic incident," he added.</s>PENTICTON, B.C. — The British Columbia Prosecution Service says murder charges have now been laid against a suspect in the shooting deaths of four people in Penticton.

Spokesman Dan McLaughlin says three counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder have been laid against John Brittain.

The 60-year-old remains in custody and is due to appear in court in Penticton today.

RCMP have said the shootings began at around 10:30 a.m. Monday when a 71-year-old man was killed outside a duplex in downtown Penticton.

The suspect then drove about five kilometres to a second location where the other three people were attacked, but investigators say the motive for the shootings is still undetermined. One person was found dead in the north end of the city; the three others were found in the south end.

McLaughlin says the names of the victims are currently being withheld pending notification of relatives.

Supt. Ted De Jager said Monday the suspect and the four victims knew each other.

De Jager said the Mounties received a call about a possible shooting in the downtown at about 10:30 a.m., and the suspect was taken into custody about an hour later.

Earlier, police cordoned off the city’s downtown and were telling people to avoid the area because of a serious situation unfolding.

They asked the public to follow the direction of police and to avoid specific areas, but later lifted those restrictions.

“We’re still trying to find the motive for this whole incident, so that’s part of the ongoing investigation,” he told a news conference.

“Indications right now are that all four were targeted.”

De Jager said more than 30 officers were involved in the response to the shootings.

“I understand that this is a deeply troubling incident that has taken place in our community,” he said.

“Our hearts and thoughts are with all those impacted by this terribly tragic incident. Our priority now, will be to speak with the families of those involved and offer our support.”

De Jager said an emergency response team was deployed to another place in the city, but police said it was not related to the shootings and the incident was resolved.

Joyce Brennan, a downtown resident, said she was taking out the recycling sometime between 9:30 and 10 a.m. when she heard the sound of three muffled bangs in the distance.

“But there is a lot of construction going on around us here, so I just assumed it was something to do with that,” Brennan said.

She said her son called a short time later to say someone was killed near her house.

Shelley Halvorson was in her office at J&E Automotive Services Ltd. in the north end of the city at around 10:30 a.m. when she heard “pop, pop, pop, pop,” she said.

“All of a sudden, all these cop cars were swarming the area, and an ambulance showed up, and we went outside and I saw a guy laying in the grass,” she said.

The man was laying on the lawn outside a home, she said.

“We were told we had to get back inside because there was a guy — who shot this guy — who was on the loose with a rifle,” Halvorson said.

Three or four officers with rifles and a police dog charged down a nearby side street, while other police officers stayed behind and taped off the area, Halvorson said.

“It was kind of scary,” she said. “It’s a very quiet area, so it’s a little alarming for this to be happening.”

Daniel Kenward lives a few houses down and also heard gunshots before police cars arrived and he saw a man lying on the grass outside. The man appeared to be older with white or grey hair, he said.

About 45 minutes later, he heard a sound of “anguish,” and his wife looked out the window and saw an older woman hugging someone, Kenward added.

“I don’t know what her relationship was to him or anything like that. I just know she was upset. You know that sound,” he said.

Wayne Shortreed, who lives in the southern part of the city close to where the three individuals were found dead, said police had shut down at least two blocks of his residential street.

Officers wearing bulletproof vests and police dogs were patrolling the area, he said.

Shortreed said he didn’t hear gunshots, possibly because he was operating noisy machinery, but he spoke with an officer who told him he had knocked on his door at about 1 p.m., but there was no answer.

“I asked him, ’What’s going on?”’ Shortreed said. “’What happened? A hit and run?’ He goes, ’Oh no, it’s worse than that.”’

— By Laura Kane in Vancouver and Daniela Germano in Edmonton</s>“Police have determined four people are deceased at three locations within a 5 km radius,” the statement said.

“A man matching the suspect’s description turned himself into the Penticton RCMP detachment. The man remains in custody while the investigation progresses. Preliminary indications are this was a targeted incident,” the statement said.

The initial shooting incident was reported at 10:30 am local time (1730 GMT). As police were en route to the scene, a second shooting was reported.

The suspect in both shootings turned himself in about an hour after the first report, police said.

A motive for the shootings was still unknown.

“Determining why this occurred is part of our ongoing investigation,” said RCMP regional commander Ted De Jager.

“I understand that this is a deeply troubling incident that has taken place in our community. Our hearts and thoughts are with all those impacted by this terribly tragic incident,” he added.
Four people are killed in a string of shootings in Penticton, British Columbia, in what police are calling targeted killings. A man later turned himself in and was taken into custody.