Police examine the scene of a shooting May 7, 2018 in Vernon.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON - REPORTER / iNFOnews.ca)

VERNON - Police have a parking lot across from a Vernon high school draped in police tape today as they investigate a brazen daytime shooting. 

The heavy police presence is concentrated in a parking lot shared by businesses such as the Dollar Tree and Cloverdale Paint. Across the street sits W.L. Seaton Secondary, which was placed on lockdown earlier today, May 7, as a precaution. Yellow evidence markers can be seen around a black Honda, where gloved officers are examining items. 

RCMP spokesperson Const. Kelly Brett says in a media release the shooting occurred just before noon and appears to have been targeted. 

"The investigation is in its early stages at this time. As the shooting appears to be targeted, public safety is not at risk," she says. 

Police found a lone man in a vehicle with gunshot wounds. He was transported by B.C. Ambulance to the nearest medical facility with life-threatening injuries, Brett says. 

"Given the time of day and the location, it is fortunate no other people were injured during this incident," she says. 

Police are asking people to stay clear of the area to allow officers to conduct their investigation. This is the second shooting incident in the past week in Vernon. On May 2, a 21-year-old man was shot around 2 a.m. on 33 Street. At the time, police said the incident was targeted and not a random act.

An employee at a business bordering the parking lot says she heard  banging noises mid-morning followed by some commotion outside. Shortly after that, she heard sirens.

“It was just craziness in the parking lot,” she says.

The employee asked that her name not be used out of fear for her safety.

“I just finally seen the ambulance taking somebody out of the car, it looked like they were working on him,” she says.

The man was loaded onto a stretcher and taken away by ambulance.

“It’s scary but it’s going to happen anywhere you go, there’s no guarantees on where you are. It happens. Unfortunately it happened in our parking lot,” she says.

School District 22 spokesperson Maritza Reilly confirmed the school lockdown was lifted after roughly 30 minutes. 

“We don’t have any further information,” Reilly says. “We’re referring any questions to the RCMP as they further investigate this matter. We are letting them do their job to ensure that the general public and of course our nearby school, are safe.”

In a letter home to parents, the district said the lockdown was initiated at the direction of RCMP. 

"The lockdown happened during the lunch hour and some of our students were in the community. If your child witnessed anything or has any concerns, we have extra counselling staff that are available," the district says. Contact the school office to make arrangements.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP at 250-545-7171 or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. You may also leave a tip online. You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers. If you provide information that leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.

— This story was updated at 2 p.m. May 7, 2018 to add information from an RCMP media release and again at 3:07 p.m. to add an interview with a nearby employee. 

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston or call 250-309-5230 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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News from © iNFOnews, 2018