A 40-year-old local man, known to police, is in custody in Fort Nelson, after reports of vehicles purposefully set on fire and complaints of shots fired.
On April 23, 2025 at approximately 7:10 p.m., the man was asked to leave a community meeting on the Fort Nelson First Nations Reserve (FNFN) for being disruptive and appearing to be under the influence of drugs.
After leaving the meeting, the man purchased some fuel at a nearby gas station and allegedly stated his intent to set vehicles on fire.
Shortly after, one vehicle owned by FNFN was found on fire in the community hall parking lot, which spread to a second vehicle.
At approximately 7:45 p.m., the Northern Rockies RCMP received a complaint of shots fired at the man’s residence on the Reserve.
While police officers were dispatched to the scene, a woman leaving the Reserve observed the vehicles on fire in the community hall parking lot and departed the area in her vehicle towards her residence on 52 Avenue.
While driving, she observed the suspect man on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) following her. According to the woman, she immediately ran inside her home, as the man allegedly shot a rifle in her direction.
At 7:54 p.m., police responded to a complaint that the suspect man was at the local hospital with a gunshot wound. As a precaution, the hospital was temporarily placed on lockdown.
Upon searching the man’s residence, officers observed a firearm on the bed. However, they found no evidence to support that a shooting took place there.
It is unclear at this time how and where the man sustained his non-life-threatening injuries. He has been apprehended and will remain in police custody until his court appearance in the coming days.
The Northern Rockies RCMP Detachment Commander, Sgt. Christian Drabosenig is advising the public to expect more police presence in the affected communities while their investigation into the incidents continue.
“We are aware that a number of unverified information is circulating over social media, which is creating fear in the communities,” Sgt. Drabosenig states. “We want to assure the public that we are actively investigating these incidents, including speaking to witnesses. I am urging the public to please contact us directly with information related to the vehicle fires and/or the shots fired, as opposed to posting on social media in order to minimize misinformation,” he added.
Please call the Northern Rockies RCMP’s non-emergency phone number at 250-774-2700 if you have any information on these incidents.