A picture showing the two suspects involved in the July 3 shooting near the Sandbar Grill. (Photo vial Kamloops RCMP)
Kamloops RCMP are asking for help in identifying a pair of suspects connected to last Wednesday’s gang-related shooting near the Sandbar Grill that left a 40-year-old man with serious, non-life-threatening injuries.
Police released a blurry picture of two suspects who reportedly emerged from the trees before the shooting that led to a vehicle ending up in the Thompson River.
RCMP say the first suspect was wearing a black hooded sweater, a grey shirt, black capri shorts, and black boots, while the other was wearing a black hat, a green plaid, coat, black pants with white vertical markings, and white shoes.
The pair were associated with a grey Audi SQ5 which did not have a front license plate.
A picture showing the grey Audi SQ5 linked to the suspects involved in the July 3 shooting near the Sandbar Grill. (Photo vial Kamloops RCMP)
“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,” Kamloops RCMP Sgt. Kevin McIntyre said, in a statement. “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.”
While police have not identified who the victim was – only saying he’s known to them – reports are that Cameron Cole was the man targeted in the shooting. Cole was previously publicly dentified by the RCMP as one of two local drug kingpins currently embroiled in a turf dispute.
Today’s statement referenced that warning about an increase risk to public safety linked to an organized crime conflict.
“As we work to further progress this and other related investigations, we continue to deploy resources and utilize additional provincial supports to help assist in the suppression of violence associated to this ongoing conflict,” Kamloops RCMP Operations Officer Inspector Justin Thiessen added.
Police have previously said there were two vehicle fires linked to last Wednesday’s shooting – a silver Audi on the Jamieson Creek Forest Service Road north of Westsyde around 7:20 p.m. on July 3, and a black BMW in the 1700 block of Parkcrest Avenue in Brock early morning on July 4.
Mounties say the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia deployed its Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (UGET) to Kamloops to “assist with suppression and support following last week’s shooting.”
They say UGET members seized hatchets, knives, nunchakus, a makeshift spear, large amounts of drugs including suspected methamphetamine, crack cocaine, ketamine, fentanyl; and break-in instruments during their time in Kamloops.
“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,” Thiessen added.
People with information related to the suspects, the vehicle, or the investigation itself are being told to contact the Kamloops RCMP Detachment at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2024-20995.
