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Penticton  

Shooting victim dies

A well-known Oliver man and victim of an alleged attempted murder earlier this year has passed away.

Tommy Szajko, 50, died in his home Friday, reports the Oliver Daily News.

Police say the death is in the hands of the BC Coroners Service.

Szajko was allegedly shot with a handgun at his home by Afshin Maleki Ighani on Apr. 19. After the shooting, police swarmed Szajko's home looking for Ighani, who was arrested in Princeton four days later after allegedly kidnapping a woman. He remains behind bars. 

Court documents name Szajko as the victim of the initial shooting. Immediately after the incident, neighbours described him as kind and a good, but troubled person.

He was well known in the community for being the recipient of a medal of bravery from the Governor General in 1995 for awakening five residents of a house that was on fire, and re-entering the house after hearing another person crying for help.

—with files from the Oliver Daily News



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