By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
This is an update of an earlier story.
The RCMP confirmed the death of a 61-year old man from gunshot wounds on the Osoyoos Indian Reserve following an unknown incident early Sunday morning.
Investigators from the Southeast District Major Crime Unit (SED MCU) have been called to assist the Oliver RCMP with the early morning homicide.
Just before 4 a.m. on Sunday June 12 frontline officers from the Oliver RCMP were called to the 1000-block of Pineridge Drive on the Osoyoos Indian Reserve after receiving a report that a man had been shot.
Despite the life-saving efforts of an associate of the victim, when officers and BC Emergency Health Services arrived, they discovered the 61-year-old man had died.
Police and forensic investigators on the property in the 1000 block of Pineridge Rd on the Osoyoos Indian Reserve near Oliver. Derrick Robson photo.
The RCMP said investigators are in the evidence gathering phase of the investigation and are being assisted by the Southeast District Forensic Identification Section and Police Dog Services and the Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen Regional District General Investigation Section.
“We are in the very preliminary stages of investigation, and will continue to canvass the area for witnesses and video surveillance, said Inspector Brent Novakoski, Southeast District Senior Investigating Officer of BC RCMP Major Crime Services.
“It is far too early to make any concrete determinations but early indications are that this was not a random shooting; however, we will continue to let the evidence guide us as we continue to investigate,” Novakoski added.
Sources who first alerted the Times Chronicle to the incident suggested that the shooting was drug-related but this has not been confirmed.
Anyone having information about this incident is asked to contact the SED MCU tipline at 1-877-987-8477.
