Family and friends are remembering neighbours who were gunned down in Penticton as the small city in British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 south Okanagan held a vigil Wednesday for the four victims.
Jeff Schwarz says his uncle Rudi Winter, 71, was a gentle person who liked to keep the peace.
B次元官网网址淩udi wouldnB次元官网网址檛 hurt a fly. HeB次元官网网址檚 the most calm, peaceful guy youB次元官网网址檇 ever meet. If there was a confrontation, he wouldnB次元官网网址檛 address it,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that Winter B次元官网网址減retty muchB次元官网网址� raised him.
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Winter was fatally shot on Monday while helping a friend with some yard work in downtown Penticton. Soon after, another man and two women in their 60s and 70s were shot in a residential neighbourhood, RCMP said.
Supt. Ted De Jager said a suspect walked into the Penticton RCMP detachment and surrendered about one hour after police first received a report of a possible shooting.
John Brittain, 68, a former employee in the cityB次元官网网址檚 engineering department, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder. None of the allegations against him has been tested in court.
A lawyer who represented Brittain during a court appearance on Tuesday could not immediately be reached for comment.
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Neighbours of Barry and Susan Wonch, who a family member confirmed were also victims of the shootings, described the retired couple as warm and friendly people.
The Wonches moved to Penticton from Osoyoos in recent years, said Wally Murphy.
B次元官网网址淭hey were probably the best neighbours we ever had,B次元官网网址� said Murphy, adding he knew Barry for 14 years.
B次元官网网址淚 knew where the tools were in his garage and he knew where the tools were in mine.B次元官网网址�
John Maxwell lived across the street from the Wonches in Osoyoos before they moved to Penticton.
He said Susan was a wonderful cook and the couple liked to organize neighbourhood parties.
B次元官网网址淭hey were both the nicest people you could ever, ever ask to be with. When we went over, they really made you feel like somebody,B次元官网网址� he said.
More than 100 people gathered in a downtown park for a candlelight vigil Wednesday night.
Organizers said the event was intended as a way for community members to support one another through the tragedy.
Kim Kirkham, executive director of the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, said the small city of 34,000 nestled between two lakes and rolling mountains is having trouble coming to terms with the violence.
B次元官网网址淎ny store I walk into B次元官网网址� restaurants, coffee shops B次元官网网址� people are talking about it. ItB次元官网网址檚 affected everyone,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淧entictonB次元官网网址檚 not very big, so you either knew them or you know somebody who knew them. ItB次元官网网址檚 a tough thing to fathom, happening in our small community.B次元官网网址�
Matthew Baran, executive director of the Ooknakane Friendship Centre in Penticton, said itB次元官网网址檚 not uncommon for the community to rally behind others in times of tragedy.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very caring community organically, thatB次元官网网址檚 just normal,B次元官网网址� he said.
He said the friendship centre already offers different types of healing support so it seemed natural to organize the vigil with the local chamber of commerce.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a strong community and this is part of the process of how we will rise up from this,B次元官网网址� he said.
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Members of the crowd raised candles in the air and embraced one another as some of the communityB次元官网网址檚 leaders gave brief addresses.
Some said came to show support for the children of the victims. Gina Hansinger went to high school with one of the victimB次元官网网址檚 sons, while Bernie Burger said he works with WinterB次元官网网址檚 daughter.
B次元官网网址淎s a friend I was glad to see her, to show my support,B次元官网网址� he said.
Carleen and Gordon Dyck said they came to give the family support even though they didnB次元官网网址檛 know them.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just devastated at the idea of what can happen in a beautiful town like Penticton and realize how much stress and anxiety there is in the world today,B次元官网网址� she said.
Carrie Crossman said she grew up in Penticton and the violence was unprecedented.
B次元官网网址淚 think everyoneB次元官网网址檚 feeling the same way, shocked, just senseless,B次元官网网址� she said.
Amy Smart, The Canadian Press
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