UPDATE: March 29
A 38-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following the weekend鈥檚 bizarre string of shootings that left a Chilliwack man in hospital.
Peter Anthony Kampos has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a March 25 shooting that allegedly occurred in the area of the Ford Mountain Forest Road in Chilliwack, RCMP confirmed Wednesday.
Kampos, believed to be from Ontario, remains in custody.
A 39-year-old Chilliwack man was airlifted to hospital Saturday afternoon after being shot while in his vehicle in the Chilliwack River Valley. He was able to elude his attacker, eventually seeking help and medical aid from army personnel who were training nearby.
Chilliwack RCMP, including air, dog and tactical units were able to locate the suspect. He was taken into custody without incident.
The family of the shooting victim has since set up a fundraising page.
Police are also continuing their investigation into a series of vehicle shootings that spanned a 14 hour period, beginning March 24 at 1 p.m. So far, police have received 22 reports of commercial trucks believed to have been shot and one report involving a passenger vehicle.
鈥淲e are asking those who may have travelled Highway 37 on March 24 between Kitimat and Terrace, Highway 16 between Terrace and Prince George as well as Highway 97 from Prince George to 100 Mile House to carefully examine their vehicle for suspicious damage,鈥� said RCMP spokesperson S/Sgt. Annie Linteau. 鈥淲e are asking anyone who may have been the victim of a suspicious incident allegedly involving Mr. Kampos or the vehicle he was driving to contact their local detachment鈥�.
Investigators of the Chilliwack Serious Crime Unit are continuing their investigation of the incident that occurred in the Ford Mountain Forest Service Road area which will include looking at Kampos鈥� movements prior to March 24 and possible motivations.
鈥斺赌斺赌�
UPDATED at 3 p.m.:
One man is in custody and another in hospital following a bizarre series of events that began in northern B.C. Friday and ended in gunfire near Chilliwack Lake on Saturday.
The incident began Friday evening after reports several vehicles had been shot at.
Reports that a passenger vehicle and semi-trucks had been fired at over an eight-hour period were received from multiple communities including Houston, Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, Clucuz Lake, Prince George, Quesnel and 100 Mile House. There were no reported injuries.
North District RCMP called for the public鈥檚 help locating a suspect vehicle, described as a 2009 blue Dodge Caliber with Ontario license plates.
Investigators of the Real Time Intelligence Centre - BC (RTIC - BC) also advised all British Columbia police officers of the incidents and asked them to be on the look out for the suspect vehicle.
Then on Saturday, at approximately 3:35 p.m., Chilliwack RCMP received a report that a man had been shot in the area of the Ford Mountain Forest Road. Police learned that the victim had fled the suspect and managed to find help when he came upon Canadian Forces personnel working at a range on Chilliwack Lake Road. Persons in attendance, including military police and reservists, provided first aid to the victim who was then airlifted to a Lower Mainland hospital.
鈥淒ue to the exceptional efforts of all first responders and medical staff,鈥� said RCMP spokesperson S/Sgt. Annie LINTEAU, 鈥渢he 39-year-old Chilliwack resident survived and has non-life threatening injuries.鈥�
He remains in hospital.
Given the new information about the Chilliwack shooting and that the suspect was believed to be armed and dangerous, police requested the assistance of the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team (ERT), the Integrated Police Dog Service, and Air Services. An extensive ground and air search of the area was conducted. Members of the Integrated Police Dog Service and the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team, who were nearby, proceeded on foot up the Ford Mountain Forest Service Road through steep terrain to locate the suspect.
At approximately 5:10 pm, they located the suspect and took him into custody without further incident. The man鈥檚 vehicle was located nearby.
鈥淭his proved to be an extremely fluid and fast-evolving situation,鈥� said C/Supt. Dave Attfield, Acting Criminal Operations Officers - Core Policing. 鈥淧ublic safety was our priority. To ensure the safe apprehension of the suspect, we engaged all specialized resources available and ensured all police personnel had what they needed. We cannot underestimate the role the quick coordination of resources and timely sharing of information had on the resolution of this incident鈥�
The man is currently facing one charge of unlawful possession of a firearm, with additional charges being considered. Discussions are underway with Crown Counsel and the male has been remanded in custody pending a court appearance on March 29.
North District RCMP Major Crime Unit are continuing to investigate and coordinate all instances of shots fired at commercial and personal vehicles. Police are asking anyone who may have been the victim of a suspicious incident allegedly involving the suspect or suspect vehicle described above to contact their local police.
Investigators of the Chilliwack Serious Crime Unit are continuing their investigation of the incident that occurred in the Ford Mountains Forrest Service Road area. All investigative efforts will also look at the suspect鈥檚 movements prior to March 24 and possible motivations.
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ORIGINAL:
Traffic was being turned back on Chilliwack Lake Road Saturday afternoon after reports of gunshots in the area.
An air ambulance was seen leaving the area at around 4:30 p.m. after landing at Thompson Park.
One person who was hiking in the area (who asked his name not be used), says he saw a man with an obvious gunshot wound being treated by army personnel outside his car. The back window of his vehicle was missing.
Another person posted on Facebook that people east of the roadblock were trapped for at least two hours.
The post said a man had been shot in the parking lot near the trail head of Lindeman Lake. 鈥淗e was able to drive himself to Vokes Range where the military happened to be training,鈥� he wrote.
鈥淲hen I was able to drive again I saw a Honda Civic with 3-4 bullet holes in the windshield driver side and the back window completely blown out.
鈥淲hen talking to military police on my way out, they said they were still looking for the shooter. Shooter was somewhere in the bush.鈥�
Police have released no details about the incident, saying only that there was an 鈥渁ctive investigation.鈥�
Meanwhile, RCMP confirm a suspect wanted in connection with a string of random shootings in northern B.C. was arrested in Chilliwack Saturday.
According to police, between 8:30 pm on Friday March 24 and 2:45 am on Saturday March 25, North District OCC received numerous calls of a vehicle on Hwy 97, shooting out radiators and windows of semi-tractor trailers while being operated.
Reports of shots fired at semi-trucks were received near Houston, Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, Clucuz Lake, Prince George, Quesnel and 100 Mile House.
RCMP asked the public鈥檚 help locating the suspect vehicle, described as a blue, 2009 Dodge Caliber with Ontario license plates.
Police have not said if the two incidents are related.
Watch for more information when it becomes available.
