Ermakov Magomed thought he escaped danger by getting in his car, but he ended up evading suspects from Batchelor Heights to Lower Sahali in a Dec. 29, 2022, car chase.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Ermakov Magomed

Magomed Ermakov wasn't expecting to be met at gunpoint when he joined his friends just outside Kamloops last month.

What started as a night with friends and a drive into the hills and grasslands behind Batchelor Heights ended with a car chase and a frantic plea for help from police.

Ermakov, 21, was with two friends when they drove to the grasslands area just north of Kamloops on Dec. 29, around 9 p.m. They stopped at a wide clearing near a group of strangers who appeared to be holding a party.

One of his friends was planning to drive his 4x4 truck through the snow and "drift," but the nearby partiers believed they were too close to their vehicles, Ermakov said. What first started as warnings to keep clear from them, quickly escalated to threats of violence.

"They were all drunk and saying we should leave," he said. "They tried to start a fight. One of the guys out of nowhere gets a gun."

Ermakov tried to remain calm, urging his friend to pull out his phone to film them as they retreated to their cars, careful not to turn his back to them.

"Then he pulls the gun out (from a bag) and points it at me," he said. "He told me, 'you have three seconds to get out of here or I'll shoot you.'"

Ermakov managed to start recording, but said they managed to hide what appeared to be a hunting rifle before the video started, which he showed to iNFOnews.ca.

Ermakov filmed the interaction, which shows a young man pushing toward him, laughing off Ermakov's accusation of making threats with a rifle. Voices in the background claim the unknown man was 17.

"Obviously I was scared, but I was trying to control myself. I didn't want to turn my back from them," he said. "When he pulled out the gun, I knew they were drunk, so I thought they might shoot me. The only thing I was concerned about was if they shoot me, it has to be on video."

Ermakov, a Russian international student, tried to keep clear of the group entirely before the confrontation, especially concerned that any trouble with the law could pose challenges for his study permit and immigration status.

He guessed there were ten to 15 people in the group, ranging from late teens to mid-20s, but the six aggressors were among the youngest.

Ermakov and his two friends left in two vehicles, with Ermakov driving one. He thought the incident was over, but he noticed a truck and a two-door car were following him from Westsyde Road to North Kamloops.

After about 15 minutes, the car tried to brake check him with the black truck behind, trying to "pinch them off," he said. "That's when I realized I had to call the cops," Ermakov said.

The two vehicles continued to follow as Ermakov weaved through residential streets, then crossed Overlanders Bridge and tried to lose them near Thompson Rivers University while also arranging to meet RCMP around 10:25 p.m.

They agreed to meet police at the Superstore parking lot on Summit Drive, where the grey car continued to follow and its driver was subsequently spoken to by RCMP.

"I saw who they took out of the car and it wasn't the guy with the gun," Ermakov said.

Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn confirmed there was a weapons complaint that day, but said the firearm is believed to be an "airsoft."

In a statement, she added no other vehicles or suspects alleged to be involved were found.

Ermakov was simply relieved police were at the scene and the chase was over, although the person he said was pointing the rifle wasn't found.

"To be honest, I don't know what those kids were thinking. They were young, they were drunk, so I don't want the kid to go to prison for one mistake in his life," Magomed said. "It would be good if they get a lesson not to point a gun at a person. Maybe he's a good kid but has problems in his life."

Anyone who witnessed, has information, or video related to this incident can contact the Kamloops RCMP Detachment at 250-8280-3000.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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