Kamloops RCMP released this image of the shooters on July 10, 2024, a week after the incident.

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

Police are appealing for more witnesses after a midday shooting sent one man to hospital last week in Kamloops.

Kamloops RCMP released grainy surveillance photos of the suspects in the July 3 North Shore shooting in a media release today, July 10, paired with an image of the getaway vehicle.

It comes after months of escalations in gang violence among local drug traffickers. The violence prompted police to warn the public after the violence escalated to multiple shootings in May.

That warning centred around 25-year-old Justin Hunt and 40-year-old Cameron Cole, who are on opposing sides of the conflict. The latter was identified by Castanet Kamloops as the victim in the July 3 shooting. 

Police said a 40-year-old man with a gunshot wound was in a vehicle in the river. His injuries were serious but not life-threatening.

The two shooters in that incident are seen in the image, appearing to be pointing handguns. 

“We are interested in hearing from anyone who saw either of the two male suspects described, or the Grey Audi SQ5 at any time on July 3,” Sgt. Kevin McIntyre of the Kamloops RCMP targeted enforcement unit said in the news release.

One suspect was wearing a black hooded sweater, grey shirt, black capri shorts and black boots. The other a black hat, green plaid coat, black pants and white shoes, police said. They were driving a grey Audi SQ5 with no licence plate.

“This shooting happened in a public area, at a time of day when numerous innocent bystanders were present. We are hopeful that someone has information to help further this and other recent investigations believed to be part of the ongoing conflict between local drug traffickers," McIntyre said.

Since the Wednesday shooting, the province's gang squad has returned to Kamloops, according to the news release.

“While we continue to disrupt the illegal activities of those involved in the drug trade and investigate occurrences related to the recent violence, we ask the public to please contact police with any information that may be related, and to be vigilant in reporting criminal and suspicious activity to police,” Insp. Justin Thiessen, the detachment's operations officer, said.

Hells Angels bikers were also seen in Kamloops area on the weekend. More than a dozen riders were followed by unmarked police cruisers on the Coquihalla Highway between Merritt and Kamloops. 

iNFOnews.ca asked whether police have identified either of the shooters, but RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn would not comment.

"That information is part of the ongoing investigation and won’t be released at this time in order to protect its integrity," she said in an emailed response.

Cpl. Evelyn also said police monitored the biker presence in the city over the weekend, but there were "no reported incidents involving that group."

— This story was updated at 4:58 p.m., July 10, 2024 with an additional response from Cpl. Crystal Evelyn.

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