Man injured in 'Grow-op Rip' on property
By Contributor
Malakwa resident suffered non life-threatening injuries after being shot in a marihuana Grow Op Rip at his property.
Hospital authorities notified police, after the man drove himself to the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Vernon early Saturday morning suffering from a single gunshot wound to the neck.
Malakwa is located off the Trans-Canada Highway 1 in the Eagle Valley of the Shuswap region near Sicamous.
On Saturday (April 28) at 3:40 a.m., members from the Vernon RCMP Detachment were notified that a 36-year-old man had attended the Vernon Jubilee Hospital seeking medical assistance for a gunshot wound to the neck.
The man’s initial account of how he suffered the injury was questioned by investigators , who determined after further investigation that the individual had not disclosed that the shooting was as a result of being the target of a marihuana grow operation rip off.
It was eventually revealed that the man had confronted a group of suspect on his property late Friday night/early Saturday morning and was shot by one of the suspects males with a handgun.
The injured man stated he was given first aid by the intruders and held captive for a short period who eventually departed, at which time he drove himself to the hospital.
The injury sustained by the male as a result of the shooting was serious but not life threatening.
The motive for the incident is confirmed to be drug related and police are confident that this was a targeted attack.
The investigation is ongoing by members of both Vernon and Sicamous Detachments with the assistance of the South East District General Investigation Section.
