Looking north towards the vineyards of Naramata.

(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)

Another episode of gang violence in Naramata hasn't shaken the local regional director's belief that it's a safe place for families. 

Despite all the sordid activity and loose ends in 2021 – three murders in the spring, one suspect still on the lam, no suspects named in the murder of a mother, and no arrests announced after a man was shot on Oct. 26 – the village is still a safe place for those who are not involved in gangs or the drug trade, according to Karla Kozakevich, Area E director for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.

“They’re not targeting random citizens,” Kozakevich said.

A major reason why Naramata is still a safe community, she said, is because locals look out for each other and are quick to alert one another of suspicious activity.

But she doesn’t understand why gang activity has flared up in the village this year.

“It’s obviously concerning that violence could spill over and hurt innocent people," she said.

Kozakevich found it particularly worrisome how the most recent police response on Oct. 26 was for a shooting that happened so early in the morning, when many people are on their way to work and school. The victim was a 36-year-old man who was shot around 7:30 a.m. on Indian Rock Road. He is known to police and was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

About an hour later, a burning vehicle was discovered on Gammon Road, also in Naramata. As a result of both incidents there was a large police presence that morning involving roadblocks and helicopters.

Penticton RCMP have not determined whether the shooting and burning car were related, but said there is no evidence of ongoing risk as the shooting was targeted and related to the drug trade. There has been no mention of any arrests related to the Oct. 26 shooting.

Kozakevich doesn’t know if this week’s shooting had anything to do with to anybody who lives in Naramata. 

READ MORE: Heavy RCMP presence in Naramata after report of shots fired

This year’s first major crime in Naramata came to light on May 10, when two bodies were discovered in the area of Naramata Creek Forest Service Road. That also sparked a manhunt involving a heavy police presence and helicopters.

The two dead men were identified as brothers Carlo and Erick Fryer from Kamloops. The public was told that incident was targeted and there was no risk to public safety.

A month later on June 9, while the RCMP were investigating the murder of the Fryer brothers, they visited the home of Kathy Richardson. When nobody answered the door police entered the residence and found her body.

Again, the public was told that incident was targeted and there was no risk to public safety. However Richardson was a hairstylist and not known to be involved with drugs or gangs.

On June 18, it was announced that 35-year-old Anthony Graham of Penticton and 32-year-old Wade Cudmore of Naramata had been charged with the murders of Carlo and Erick Fryer. A significant revelation was that Graham is the son of Richardson. He has been in custody since the charges were announced while Cudmore still remains on the loose.

It's not a good idea for the public to speculate, Kozakevich said, adding that she has faith in the police investigation. 

READ MORE: RCMP investigating a double murder find another body in the same B.C. community

Anytime suspicious activity is observed around the village she urges residents to report it to the RCMP immediately.

Kozakevich said she rarely notices criminal behaviour among those living in Naramata, although a couple years ago she remembers a rental unit that had some “bad apples” living in it, where stolen items would often turn up.

The landlord’s struggle to evict them was made harder due to COVID, but she said he eventually managed to get rid of those problematic tenants. However she doesn’t know for sure that they left town or if they have any involvement in this year’s violence.

The local police detachment may be stretched thin, she said, but officers are more present in the community than many people realize as they often conduct undercover patrols.

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