Police are looking for this car.

(RCMP / iNFOnews.ca)

OKANAGAN - A noontime shooting in Vernon and an evening carjacking in Penticton may be linked RCMP say and they need help finding a vehicle related to their investigation. The car was last seen in West Kelowna.

RCMP Sgt. Janelle Shoihet said in a press release police now believe the suspect in the shooting in Vernon on Monday, May 7 matches the description of a suspect in the carjacking in Penticton later that night.

He is described as a Caucasian male, 5'9" tall with blonde hair.

Later that day, at 8:35 p.m. on May 7, Penticton RCMP were called to a motel in the 800-block of Westminster Avenue for a report of a man with a gun. The man was seen in possession of a high-visibility vest and matched the description of the suspect in the Vernon shooting. The man fled prior to police attendance.

A short while later, at 8:46 p.m., Penticton RCMP received a report of a carjacking in the 100-block of Maple Street. The victim, driving a bluish-grey Pontiac Vibe, reported that a male, matching the description of both previous incidents asked for a ride to the hospital to see a sick family member.

Once inside the car, the male assaulted the victim. The victim was forced from the vehicle in the 900-block of Main Street in Penticton. The victim sustained serious but non life-threatening injuries.

At 8:35 a.m. on May 8, Penticton RCMP were notified that the victim’s stolen vehicle was mobile and nearing the Departure Bay Ferry Terminal in Nanaimo. Assistance from Nanaimo RCMP was sought to arrest the driver as the vehicle left the ferry.

The Ford Crown Victoria police were looking for in connection with the shooting has been recovered by police.

Police say the victim of the Vernon shooting, a 24-year-old Vernon man, remains in hospital in serious condition.

The RCMP investigation must take care not to impede the Independent Investigations Office as it looks into the Nanaimo shooting, says Supt. Ray Carfantan, assistant district officer of the RCMP's southeast district.

"While we wish to advance these investigations, we must be mindful of the nexus to the ongoing Nanaimo investigation by the Independent Investigation Office of British Columbia," he says in the news release. "We will continue to support the investigative needs of our units here in the Okanagan to enhance public safety, while respecting that the IIO BC leads the investigation on Vancouver Island."

Ron MacDonald, the chief civilian director of the Independent Investigations Office, has said the agency must determine a number of things in its investigation including whether the suspect was armed when he was stopped on Tuesday, and if there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police.

The agency investigates all police incidents that result in death or serious injury.

The RCMP investigation must take care not to impede the Independent Investigations Office as it looks into the Nanaimo shooting, says Supt. Ray Carfantan, assistant district officer of the RCMP's southeast district.

"While we wish to advance these investigations, we must be mindful of the nexus to the ongoing Nanaimo investigation by the Independent Investigation Office of British Columbia," he says in the news release. "We will continue to support the investigative needs of our units here in the Okanagan to enhance public safety, while respecting that the IIO BC leads the investigation on Vancouver Island."

Ron MacDonald, the chief civilian director of the Independent Investigations Office, has said the agency must determine a number of things in its investigation including whether the suspect was armed when he was stopped on Tuesday, and if there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and police.

The agency investigates all police incidents that result in death or serious injury.

— With files from The Canadian Press

— This story was updated at 11:57 a.m. Thursday, May 2018 with comment from IIO BC.

— This story was updated at 1:54 p.m. Thursday, May 2018 to add new information from RCMP about a suspect vehicle being located and the shooting victim.

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