Katie, a full-time at the Hospitality Inn, says there has been an uptick in criminal activity recently (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

SHOTS FIRED

Resident at Hospitality Inn wants to see area cleaned up, motel torn down

Oct 16, 2020 | 4:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — Katie has lived at the Hospitality Inn for two years, but wants it torn down and redeveloped. In the wake of a shooting Friday morning (Oct. 16), she says criminal activity has been on the rise.

“A lot of arrests and people coming in here, blaming their girlfriends for cheating on them and that they’re going to kill them. Breaking windows. There’s two windows up top that are broken. It’s a scary place,” she said.

“It’s very sad to see families here with kids. There was a family just below the shooter with two children, so it’s scary.”

Katie didn’t hear the shots fired that were reported at the Hospitality Inn around 7:30 Friday morning. It attracted a dozen police vehicles to the scene on Columbia Street West.

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“Initial reports indicate that a group of individuals were seen in the parking lot when gunfire erupted,” noted Sgt. Darren Michels of the Kamloops RCMP. “One of the individuals in the area suffered a non-life threatening injury and was taken to Royal Inland Hospital.”

Residents at the motel were startled when they heard arguing followed by multiple rounds going off.

“Just getting ready for school, cooking breakfast for my son and then the shots started happening. He was in the shower and had no idea what was going on until he came out,” Rob Chrystall. “I phoned 911 and told him just to stay in the [unit]. I went out to look if the cops were coming yet. They were already there and they told me to put my hands up and walk toward them, just for precautionary purposes.”

Police were unable to locate the suspect. While there was a suspicion the suspect was not on motel property, RCMP were operating under the assumption the suspect was in one of the rooms. The Emergency Response Team (ERT) was called in from Kelowna.

“We wanted to make sure they weren’t hiding in the area, had firearms. We didn’t know, so we wanted to make sure that it was safe for the public,” said Michels.

At about noon, police determined the scene was clear. RCMP can’t confirm at this point if it’s related to gang violence, but suspect it is.

“There are a lot of indications, not necessarily in this case, but drugs and guns go hand-in-hand,” Michels noted.