RCMP seek 'armed and dangerous' suspect in Canada Day shooting, probe links to other incidents in Okanagan
Update, July 7: Mounties announced Thursday that Gallagher had turned himself in late Wednesday night. More information can be found here. The original story follows.
Mounties in B.C.'s Okanagan are asking for help locating a suspect in a Canada Day shooting while exploring the possibility that he was also responsible for two other shootings in the area in the days prior.
Steven Marlo Gallagher, 29, is considered "armed and dangerous," according to a statement issued Wednesday by the Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen RCMP.
At around 7 p.m. on July 1, officers were called to an area known as "White Sands" on the east side Osoyoos Lake, the detachment says in a press release.
The victim was a 22-year-old man from Maple Ridge.
"(He) was with friends getting ready to watch the Canada Day fireworks when a male from another group started an altercation before pulling out a gun, firing multiple rounds and shooting the victim before fleeing the area," the statement continues, noting the injuries suffered were not life-threatening.
A spokesperson told CTV News that although Gallagher did not know the victim, he did know "some of the victim's friends."
That shooting followed two others in Penticton on June 26 and 28, respectively. The RCMP says investigators are "reviewing all evidence to determine whether there is a link."
In the first incident, according to the Penticton RCMP, shots were fired at around 2 a.m. after a group of friends was "approached by an unknown male" who "began to assault" a member of the group.
When another member of the group stepped in, a second "unknown male" fired a gun. No one was hit by what the statement from police describes as "indiscriminate shots."
Police went on to say the group was from out of town and did not know the suspects.
"Miraculously, no one was seriously harmed as a result of this alarming incident," Const. James Grandy wrote.
"This appears to be a non-targeted altercation with an unknown motive."
In the June 28 shooting, shots were fired at police while they were conducting a traffic stop around 1 a.m. No one was hit but the statement issued by police says an RCMP cruiser was left "riddled with bullets."
Anyone who sees Gallagher is urged not to approach him and instead to call 911. Those with information about his whereabouts are also asked to call emergency dispatchers immediately.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.