A man was found murdered at the Trans Canada Motel in Kamloops around midnight on the night of May 30, 2024.

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

One man is dead after a shooting at a motel in Kamloops overnight and RCMP suspect it was a homicide.

Kamloops RCMP received a report about a person who had been shot at a motel in the 2500-block of Trans-Canada Highway East around 12:08 a.m. today, May 31, according to a press release from police.

When officers arrived they found a dead man in one of the rooms at the Trans Canada Motel.

“Although very early in the investigation, preliminary observations suggest the shooting was not random,” Kamloops RCMP Supt. Jeff Pelley said in the release. “At this time, it’s too early to speculate on a motive or if it’s related to any other investigations currently occurring.”

Police were at the scene Friday with two officers guarding the area and a forensic team investigating the motel room in Valleyview. 

Neighbours in the area said they didn't hear any gunshots or other activity coming from the motel overnight. They hadn't noticed any suspicious activity at the motel.

An employee at the motel, who refused to provide his name, demanded iNFOnews.ca leave the property when asked for a comment on Friday. He then threatened to sue.

He said police were already there when he started his shift earlier that morning, but wouldn't provide any further comment.

Police say they will likely continue to maintain a presence throughout the weekend as they continue to investigate. Officers will be collecting evidence including video footage that could help the investigation.

It's not clear whether the shooting is related to the ongoing gang conflict in Kamloops.

RCMP called in police dogs, along with members of the Serious Crimes Unit, General Investigations Support Team and Forensic Identification Services.

“Anyone who witnessed or has information that could be related, including dash camera footage or security cameras that may have captured activity before, during, after the call to police, or in the hours following the incident, is asked to please connect with investigators as soon as possible,” Staff Sgt. Todd Wiebe with Kamloops RCMP Investigative Services said in the release.

The BC Coroners service is currently conducting a simultaneous investigation, and no further details will be shared by police at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2024-16432.

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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