UPDATE: 5:08 p.m.
The families and victims of Monday’s deadly shooting in Penticton have now met with RCMP.
Police say they are offering any and all support to the families.
“The families have asked us to convey that yesterday’s events and the loss of their loved ones is extremely difficult to comprehend,” stated an RCMP release. “They are aware that there is significant interest in what took place and why.”
The family requests for privacy at this time.
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UPDATE 4:15 p.m.
Land title searches show Darlene Knippelberg as the owner of one of the homes at the scene of Monday’s shooting, while Susan and Barry Wonch own the other residences.
Reports indicate these are the victims, but the RCMP have not confirmed.
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A former engineer who worked for the City of Penticton is facing four murder charges after a shooting spree that left four dead in the community Monday.
John Brittain, 68, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder in relation to the four deaths.
He made a brief appearance at provincial court in Penticton Tuesday morning and was remanded to the Okanagan Correctional Facility until his next court appearance in May.
Supt. Ted De Jager reaffirmed that the names of the victims will not be revealed at this time.
READ MORE: Four dead, one in custody following Penticton shooting spree
De Jager said the victims and the suspect were known to each other but would not speak to the relationship between them.
“There is no further danger in this matter to that community,” said De Jager.
“The person we have in custody we are confident he was acting alone.”
Earlier, Jager had said Brittain’s ex-wife was not one of the four victims.
When pressed for details, De Jager said though he understood the concerns of the Cornwall neighbourhood, where several of the shootings occurred, he “can’t speak to the events that led up to this… as the matter is now before the courts.”
“I can certainly respect what the neighbourhood has gone through.”
De Jager confirmed there were two homes on Cornwall involved in the shooting. Two women and one man were killed at those two houses.
The other home was on Heales Avenue, where the second man was killed.
One of the victims was identified as Rudi Winter.
The other three are identified as only BW, SW and DK in court filings.
READ MORE: Man fatally shot in Penticton shooting remembered as a ‘nice guy’
De Jager said Brittain surrendered peacefully to the front counter of Penticton’s RCMP detachment at about 11:30 a.m.
The man was taken into custody immediately after he came in. He was unarmed, De Jager said, although witness reports say he was carrying a long gun or rifle of some sorts throughout the alleged shooting spree.
De Jager said he could not reveal how Brittain gained access to the firearm.
READ MORE: Penticton mayor speaks out after shootings
According to documents found in a 2015 report, Brittain had at some point worked for the City of Penticton.
Penticton’s Mayor John Vassilaki said Brittain “did his job well” during his several years at city.
“I knew him at the time (when) I was a councillor but I didn’t know too much about him,” Vassilaki said.
“He was a gentle man.”
#BREAKING John Brittain, the shooter in #Penticton yesterday that killed four people has been taken into the Penticton court house. RCMP to give a press conference at 11. Follow @PentictonNews for full coverage pic.twitter.com/ciEuRRMIA6
— Jordyn Thomson (@JordynThomson01) April 16, 2019
John Brittain looks calm as he hears what will happen. To be remanded for a couple weeks. #Penticton @PentictonNews
— Jordyn Thomson (@JordynThomson01) April 16, 2019
John Brittain is to be transported to the #OkanaganCorrectionalFacility and will be back in #Penticton court May 8
— Jordyn Thomson (@JordynThomson01) April 16, 2019
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