One man is dead after an apartment fire in Fort St. John forced residents from their homes on Good Friday. The blaze broke out around 1pm on 103rd Avenue and 98th Street.
Fort St. John RCMP raced to the scene after a report of shots fired and a fire at the apartment complex.
Thick smoke and flames were visable as emergency crews arrived. Firefighters attacked the blaze from the ground and a bucket attached to a ladder firetruck.
A man in a silver two-door car allegedly shot at a black pickup truck with two occupants. The black truck fled the scene and headed to the Fort St. John Hospital. Police said that both occupants had suffered apparent non-life-threatening injuries.
Fort St. John RCMP said that their initial investigation suggests that the suspect male in the silver car had set the fire and then drove his vehicle into the blaze. He was located deceased inside the car.
The Fort St. John Hospital was also on lockdown briefly due to the incident. “Access may have been restricted for a short period, but the hospital is open,” said Eryn Collins, Northern Health Spokesperson.
A witness who was at the hospital told CJDC TV News, “a guy came in yelling, my girlfriend just got shot in the face.”
The witness added that a police officer with a gun came into the hospital waiting room and asked everyone to leave. After, police could be seen outside the hospital in the parking lot.
“This appears to be an isolated incident and police believe there is no ongoing risk to the public,” said Staff Sergeant Kris Clark of the BC RCMP.
Police have identified several key witnesses and the Serious Crime Unit is actively investigating the incident.
Anyone with any information who has yet to speak with police, or anyone in the area of 98 Street and 103 Avenue who may have security or dash-camera video are urged to call Fort St. John RCMP Serious Crime Unit at 250-787-8140.
