Nanaimo RCMP conducted a high-risk takedown of a vehicle Wednesday afternoon after responding to a report of shots fired in Cedar.
According to police, as responding officers were arriving on scene, a vehicle was spotted leaving the house in question. Officers stopped the vehicle near Raines Road and executed a takedown and arrested four people in the vehicle.
“Officers then learned there was a firearm in the home,” Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said in an e-mail. “Members entered the home and searched, [found] no persons in the residence, but they did find a semi-automatic rifle.”
As of Thursday morning, Nov. 21, police were looking for witnesses and trying to determine who was actually firing the rifle, which was being discharged near a residence at the north end of Raines Road.
“We got the call of somebody down there shooting in a residential area,” said Sgt. Jon Stuart, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
“People get upset. We don’t know what it is, but there’s a gun involved, so knowing a gun’s involved and that guns are dangerous, we respond seriously.”
Stuart confirmed two men and two women were arrested after a car was stopped on Raines Road. The firearm, a rifle, was found at the property and confiscated by police.
The incident was related to hunting. Stuart said no property or homes appeared to have been struck by bullets and there are no reported injuries.
“At this point we need to try to identify a person that was holding the firearm … We had a lot of people calling upset and reporting someone was firing. None of them were able to say [who it was] or describe the person, so because we don’t have any witnesses, it’s going to be difficult, but we’re still trying to see if anybody out there witnessed the event and say who was holding it.”
The investigation is continuing and police have not yet recommended any charges.
Anyone with information is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 To remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.
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