'A dark day for Penticton'

Condolences poured in Monday for Penticton, after four residents were gunned down in a series of targeted shootings, the largest spasm of violence in the history of the small city.

“Devastating news out of Penticton,” tweeted Premier John Horgan. “My thoughts are with the families of the victims, the whole community and the police and first responders on the scene.”

Indeed, an officer at one of the shooting scenes Monday morning remarked to Castanet that it has been "the worst day of my entire career."

Residents of typically quiet neighbourhoods are shaken.

"It's pretty disturbing, because I was going to be up on a ladder here painting," said Renee Myers, pointing to her home across the street from the first crime scene. "And apparently someone just came and shot him."

But RCMP maintain the shootings have not impacted the overall safety of the community.

Two adult males and two women were gunned down Monday morning at two locations — first at around 10:30 a.m. at a duplex on Lakeview St. and then shortly afterwards at two neighbouring homes on Cornwall Drive.

“This is something very targeted,” said Supt. Ted De Jager, explaining the victims were known to the alleged shooter.

“We want to ensure the public that it's not random, this wasn’t somebody walking down the street with a rifle.”

The suspected shooter, a 60-year-old Penticton man, drove himself to the Penticton RCMP station in a black Volkswagen Jetta, turning himself in at the front desk.

Police say that’s not something they are used to, but are glad it happened.

“We are glad that he did that so that the community isn’t on pins and needles and worried that someone that would do something this tragic would be out on the street. And now he’s not,” De Jager said.

MLA Dan Ashton also offered his condolences, thoughts and prayers on Twitter “for the friends and family who have been severely traumatized by the shocking events that have occurred in Penticton today."

"Our community will be here to support you," he added.

De Jager called it a “dark day for Penticton,” but noted “brightness in the community” in citizens that called police immediately, consoled the friends and family of victims and even brought water to officers on the front lines.

“Everyone stood by and co-operated and gave support. That’s the strength of the community in a time like this.”

Charges of murder are being recommended to Crown counsel. Police have not confirmed the motive of the shootings, but the wife of one of the victim's tells Castanet she suspects it is due to a neighbourly dispute.

Police are not naming the victims at this point, but they will be revealed once charges are approved.

Police also confirmed that a police incident on the south end of the city, around the Empire Motel, was unrelated to the four murders. A person was detained there under the Mental Health Act, completely unrelated to the shootings.