Image Credit: CFJC Today

By James Peters

Shots Fired

Hallucinations of wildlife result in shots fired in North Shuswap neighbourhood

Nov 25, 2020 | 5:03 PM

LEE CREEK, B.C. — RCMP in the North Shuswap say a medical emergency led to a frightening public safety hazard earlier this month.

On Nov. 14, a Lee Creek resident called 9-1-1 to report his neighbour continuously firing a gun. When RCMP arrived at the home, they found two men barricaded inside.

The men were relieved to see the responding officers, who believed they were in danger. The men told police they believed there were hundreds of wild animals surrounding the home.

“They described in detail having seen cougars kill deer and moose in the front yard,” said Sgt. Barry Kennedy in a news release. “They reported seeing the cougars drag the dead deer and moose up into the tree canopy, where the dead animals were purportedly still hanging. They also believed there was a pile of dead bears in the backyard.”

The men said they had been shooting at the animals from the home in self-defence.

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The officers saw no signs of any wildlife whatsoever.

RCMP say the men were believed to have been suffering from a health crisis. Officers took them to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops for treatment.

Several guns were found in the home and were seized for public safety. Kennedy reminds the public it is illegal to shoot a gun from inside a residence.