Shooting at Western Forest Products sawmill in Nanaimo leaves 2 dead
RCMP confirm 2 others in hospital, 47-year-old Nanaimo man arrested at scene
By Mike Laanela, CBC News Last Updated: Apr 30, 2014 12:57 PM PT Two people are dead, and two others are in hospital following a shooting this morning at the Western Forest Products sawmill in Nanaimo, B.C., officials have confirmed.
RCMP have arrested a suspect, a 47-year-old Nanaimo man, and confirm he had a "connection" to the sawmill. They would not speculate on the motive behind the shootings.
RCMP in Nanaimo say they were first called to the scene around 7 a.m. PT with reports of shots fired. (CBC)
Police said a shotgun was seized after the shootings, which took place in the parking lot and inside an office at the mill.
The shooting occurred shortly after 7 a.m. PT at the sawmill in the industrial port area near downtown Nanaimo.
Officers were on the scene three minutes after receiving a 911 call, and a member of the emergency response team entered the sawmill and arrested the suspect.
Initially the RCMP only confirmed four people were shot at the sawmill, but the B.C. Coroners Service later confirmed two people had died in the incident.
"Following an incident at the mill in south Nanaimo shortly after 7 a.m. on April 30, 2014, two persons were transported by ambulance to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. On arrival at hospital, both were pronounced deceased," said the statement by the B.C. Coroners Service.
According to Vancouver Island Health Authority, one person was airlifted to Victoria General Hospital in critical condition. One other person is in stable condition at Nanaimo General Hospital, according to spokeswoman Sarah Plank.
Officials with Western Forest Products said all of their sawmills on Vancouver Island were closed for the day, after the shooting.
Many local residents have reacted with shock and concern to the news.
