A home invasion at a rural property east of 100 Mile House was linked to a legal cannabis grow operation, said 100 Mile House RCMP.
St.-Sgt. Svend Nielsen said officers responded to the report of a home invasion on Sept. 18 at 5:39 a.m. The occupants of the home reported that at least one male, approximately six feet tall and wearing a balaclava, entered the residence with a firearm.
Nielsen said the three occupants of the building woke up and, upon encountering the male, were fired upon at least three times as they fled to their rooms.
Shortly afterward the unknown suspect fled the area, stealing a 2002 Honda Civic belonging to one of the residents.
While only the shooter was seen by the victims, Nielsen said investigators believe at least two people were involved in this incident based on evidence at the scene.
The residence is described as “very rural” and is situated on a large plot of land with several outbuildings. Nielsen said they determined the likely egress route for the suspects was a wooded area that would have allowed them to bypass the gate.
While searching the property, the RCMP found a large professional cannabis grow operation, which was confirmed to have the proper licensing through Health Canada. All three occupants involved in the incident are caretakers of the operation, Nielsen said, and none were injured in the shooting.
One of the male occupants of the property was discovered to be an American citizen without the proper authorization to be in Canada. As a result, Nielsen said, he was detained by the Canadian Border Service Agency and returned to the United States a few days later.
Meanwhile, the stolen Honda Civic was recovered by the RCMP with the help of Community on Patrol Volunteers in Deka Lake. The vehicle has since been processed for forensic evidence and returned to its owner.
“All of the occupants have been cooperating with police from the outset of the investigation. 100 Mile House RCMP believe this to be an isolated incident clearly related to the ongoing legal cannabis growing operation located on the property and, as such, do not believe there is any further risk to the public,” Nielsen said.
The investigation is ongoing.