Hip hop artist Jon James McMurray killed in video shoot near Westwold

Oct 22, 2018 | 10:38 AM

WESTWOLD, B.C. — A man died in a parachuting incident in the North Okanagan over the weekend.

Police responded to the 5100 block of Highway 97 in Westwold on Saturday night, Oct. 20 for a report of a sky diver who sustained fatal injuries as a result of an incident.

North Okanagan RCMP Cst. Kelly Brett says police and ambulance attended a private property in the small community west of Vernon, where a 30-year-old US resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Brett says the investigation into the incident is ongoing with the RCMP working with the BC Coroners Service and the Transportation Safety Board. 

A social media post by Canadian pro-skier Rory Bushfield has identified the victim as recording artist Jon James McMurray.

According to Global BC, McMurray was reportedly wing walking when the plane lost control and he fell off the wing.

Global said the plane was too close to the ground, meaning the victim did not have time to deploy his parachute, sending him careening into a farmer’s field.

In an email Monday, the BC Coroners Service did not identify McMurray, but confirmed he was part of a team of people “making a video involving stunts involving aircraft and parachuting.”

The service says something went wrong, and he fell into a field.

Spokesperson Barb McLintock says the victim was wearing a parachute, but it failed to deploy before he reached the ground.

WATCH: This video posted to Jon James’ YouTube account on Oct. 3 shows James and friends performing extreme airborne stunts.