Mounties confirm one person was killed and another critically injured in what appears to be a targeted home invasion outside Cranbrook, B.C.
The two were found shot in a home just east of the city on Highway 3/93 at around 9:30 a.m. Saturday. One victim was dead when police arrived, another was found in critical condition and rushed to hospital. The survivor's condition has not been released.
Cpl. Chris Faulkner says the investigation is in the early stages and police have not established a motive – but that the attack appears to be targeted.
"The house is set off the property. It's not something that you would just happen upon if you were walking down the road," Faulkner said of the crime scene, located about 9 kilometres from Cranbrook.
The names, ages and genders of the victims are not being released at this time.
The property has been cordoned off with police tape until investigators from the RCMP Major Crimes Unit in Kelowna arrive.
A possible suspect wearing a disguise was seen near the crime scene, Faulkner said, but no description is being released at this time. Police conducted a helicopter search, but were unable to locate anyone in the area.
A former resident of the home was arrested in connection with a shooting outside the Sam Steele Inn in Cranbrook last October, but has since moved out. Police say that incident was related to conflicts between drug traffickers in the city.
Faulkner said police were "not making a direct connection" between Saturday's shooting and the incident in October.
"We're not saying that the two situations are related," he said.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Faulkner at 250-489-3471 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
