A 28-year-old Prince George man is in custody following a shooting at a residence in Quesnel.
At 10:45 am Friday, June 21 Quesnel RCMP received a report of shots fired from a residence in the area of West Fraser Drive in Quesnel
RCMP members arrived on scene and determined that a male suspect had attended the residence where he produced a handgun and demanded money before firing the gun at the residence.
No one was hit.
The lone male departed in a blue pickup truck which was reported less than an hour and a half later engulfed in flames on nearby Marsh Road in Quesnel. Investigators do not believe that this was a random act.
Investigators determined the male suspect, 28-year-old Eric John Vining was a violent prolific offender from Prince George and very well known to the Prince George RCMP.
By working in partnership and sharing police intelligence, Prince George RCMP were able to apprehend Vining without incident shortly before midnight at a residence in Prince George.
At the time of his arrest, Vining was in possession of another firearm – a stolen semi-automatic rifle.
A subsequent investigation by Prince George RCMP has resulted in additional charges relating to possessing and pointing the semi-automatic rifle.
Quesnel RCMP executed a search warrant at the Prince George residence which resulted in the seizure of evidence linking Vining the Quesnel offence, as well as a large quantity of dried marihuana, a small quantity of methamphetamine, a machete and ammunition.
Quesnel RCMP are recommending the following charges: Robbery with a firearm, discharging a firearm with intent and possession of a firearm while prohibited.
Vining is scheduled to attend provincial court Monday afternoon, s
Additional charges are anticipated.
Investigation into this Robbery and the vehicle arson is continuing. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed a suspicious male or a blue Chevrolet pickup in the area of Marsh Road between 10:45 and noon on Friday to contact the Quesnel RCMP at 250-992-9211.
“The message to offenders is clear,” Cst. Krista Vrolyk, spokesperson for the Quesnel RCMP, said.
“Police will continue to share intelligence and work in close partnership in order to ensure that prolific offenders are monitored closely and held accountable for all criminal actions regardless of where they are committing their crimes.”
