Kamloops cops release images of suspects in targeted shooting

Police are appealing for more witnesses after a midday shooting sent one man to hospital last week in Kamloops. Kamloops RCMP released grainy surveillance photos of the suspects in the July 3 North Shore shooting in a media release today, July 10, paired with an image of the getaway vehicle. It comes after months of escalations in gang violence among local drug traffickers. The violence prompted police to warn the public after the violence escalated to multiple shootings in May. That warning centred around 25-year-old Justin Hunt and 40-year-old Cameron Cole, who are on opposing sides of the conflict. https://infotel.ca/newsitem/men-at-centre-of-kamloops-gang-war-on-opposing-sides/it104669 The latter was identified by Castanet Kamloops https://www.castanetkamloops.net/news/Kamloops/495661/Alleged-gang-kingpin-ambushed-Wednesday-in-brazen-North-Kamloops-shooting as the victim in the July 3 shooting.  Police said a 40-year-old man with a gunshot wound was in a vehicle in the river. https://infotel.ca/inwheels/kamloops-police-investigating-targeted-gangland-shooting/it105543 His injuries were serious but not life-threatening. The two shooters in that incident are seen in the image, appearing to be pointing handguns.  “We are interested in hearing from anyone who saw either of the two male suspects described, or the Grey Audi SQ5 at any time on July 3,” Sgt. Kevin McIntyre of the Kamloops RCMP targeted enforcement unit said in the news release. One suspect was wearing a black hooded sweater, grey shirt, black capri shorts and black boots. The other a black hat, green plaid coat, black pants and white shoes, police said. They were driving a grey Audi SQ5 with no licence plate. “This shooting happened in a public area, at a time of day when numerous innocent bystanders were present. We are hopeful that someone has information to help further this and other recent investigations believed to be part of the ongoing conflict between local drug traffickers," McIntyre said. Since the Wednesday shooting, the province's gang squad has returned to Kamloops, according to the news release. “While we continue to disrupt the illegal activities of those involved in the drug trade and investigate occurrences related to the recent violence, we ask the public to please contact police with any information that may be related, and to be vigilant in reporting criminal and suspicious activity to police,” Insp. Justin Thiessen, the detachment's operations officer, said. Hells Angels bikers were also seen in Kamloops area on the weekend. A dozens of riders were followed by unmarked police cruisers on the Coquihalla Highway between Merritt and Kamloops.  iNFOnews.ca asked whether police have identified either of the shooters, but RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn would not comment. "That information is part of the ongoing investigation and won’t be released at this time in order to protect its integrity," she said in an emailed response. When asked if police were monitoring the Hells Angels presence in Kamloops, Cpl. Evelyn said she would look into it. To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry mailto:llandry@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .