RCMP searching for man with ties to Okanagan in fatal Elk Valley shooting
RCMP are on the lookout for a person of interest with ties to the Okanagan in relation to a suspicious shooting death in the Elk Valley earlier this month. Elk Valley RCMP officers were dispatched at around 3:16 p.m. on Oct. 11, after receiving a call about a shooting in Sparwood,...
Valandos
RCMP are on the lookout for a person of interest with ties to the Okanagan in relation to a suspicious shooting death in the Elk Valley earlier this month.
Elk Valley RCMP officers were dispatched at around 3:16 p.m. on Oct. 11, after receiving a call about a shooting in Sparwood, according to an RCMP media release. They found the body of Joel Zimbalatti in his trailer as well as a man outside. The man was arrested and later released without charges.
As the investigation continued, RCMP said another man who goes by the alias of “Slim” was found to have been present when the shooting occurred but immediately fled the scene prior to the police’s arrival.
“Slim 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 Slim regarding this investigation,” RCMP Insp. Brent Novakoski said in the release.
While Slim was last seen in the Kimberley area the day following the shooting, he is known to have ties to the Okanagan.
He's described as a Caucasian male, 20 to 25 years old, tall and skinny with black hair and noticeable sideburns which are trimmed narrowly. He was last seen wearing the same clothes in the photo.
“If Slim sees or hears this call for information, we ask him to contact the police of jurisdiction,” Insp. Novakoski said.
Should anyone encounter Slim, they should not approach him and instead call 911 immediately. If anyone has information regarding Slim’s identity they should call the BC RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit at 1-877-987-8477.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Gabrielle Adams or call (250) 863-7592 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom 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.
