Kamloops resident hospitalized after 2 possibly related, targeted shootings

Kamloops RCMP are asking for the public's help in finding suspects involved in two possibly related shootings, one of which hasleft aperson in hospital.

Police say they believe bothshootings to be targeted murder attempts.

On June 11, police responded to a reportedshootingbetween two vehicles near the intersection of McGill Road and Summit Drive in Kamloops, B.C., at approximately 1:25 p.m.

Police say a 56-year-old Kamloops resident who was in one of the vehicles wasshot several times but is expected to survive.

The vehicle's second passenger, a young person, was not injured.

Police have not released either person'sname at this timeand sayboth passengers in the vehicle areassociated withthe Kamloops drug trade.

Both vehicles involved fledthe scene immediately after the shots were fired, say police.

However, police say both vehicles involved in theMcGillRoad shooting have been locatedand are in police custody.

The suspect vehicle isa black 2007 CadillacEscaladetruck with an Alberta licence plate that is not registered to the vehicle itself.

Police say they found the Escaladein thePembertonTerrace area ofKamloops, abandoned.

The Escalade wasreported stolen from Vernon, B.C., on May19.

Police believe the suspects involved in the shooting have had the Escalade in Kamloops since Mayand have released a picture of the truck in thehope someone with more information may come forward.

At approximately10:55 a.m. on the same day, police sayTk'emlups RCMPresponded to a different 911 call which ultimately led to the investigation of a home onSalish Road in Kamloops.

Police say thatinvestigation revealedunidentifiedpeopleallegedly engaged in a heated altercation that led to shots being fired through a home's window.

No one was injured in the Salish Road shooting, and police believe the suspect or suspects weredriving a black truck.

"The violence that we see occurs in cycles," said KamloopsRCMPStaff Sgt. Simon Pillay.

"We may experience periods of relative calm followed by several violent incidents."

"Although this investigation is at its early stages, we are confident that neither shooting wasrandom but rather targeted shootings related to drug trafficking."

Police have not confirmedthe two shootings areconnectedbut given the similarity in suspect vehicles involved, the public'sassistance is being sought inboth cases.

Anyone with information about either shootingis asked to contactthe RCMP.

Those who wishremain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.