Person of interest in Sparwood shooting death has ties to Okanagan

RCMP are searching for a person of interest in a shooting death in Sparwood who has ties to the Okanagan. The Southeast District Major Crime Unit is seeking the public’s help to find Joshua Freeman, also known as Slim, according to an RCMP press release. Freeman is a person of interest in the shooting death of Joel Zimbalatti. Zimbalatti was shot and killed in a trailer located in the 6200 block of Lower Elk Valley Road in Sparwood on Oct. 11, 2023. Officers arrested one man at the scene but further investigation determined another man, known as Slim, left the scene before police arrived. Tips from the public helped police identify Freeman as Slim. “Freeman is believed to be one of the last people to see Mr. Zimbalatti alive, before he was shot, and it is imperative that investigators speak with Mr. Freeman regarding this investigation,” Staff Sgt. Jason Smart said in the release. Freeman was last seen in Kimberley the day after the shooting but has ties to the Okanagan. “If Freeman sees or hears this call for information, we ask him to contact the police of jurisdiction,” Staff Sgt. Smart said. Police are asking for the public’s help because all other methods for tracking Freeman down have been exhausted. Freeman is not a suspect, he is a person of interest. Police did not reveal the identity of the man arrested on the day of the shooting or whether any charges have been laid in this case.  Should you encounter Freeman contact your local police. Should you have information regarding Freeman call the BC RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit information line at 1-877-987-8477. To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas mailto:jtomas@infonews.ca  or call 250-488-3065 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 .