'It was surreal': Victim’s mother arrested at scene of fatal shooting in Port Alberni
One man is dead after a gun was fired inside a home on 18th Avenue in Port Alberni, B.C., on Sunday evening.
Police are not releasing the names of those involved but CTV News has learned the victim is Jesse McPhee and the woman arrested at the scene is his mother, Samantha Dittmer.
"When RCMP members arrived they cleared the residence and found that one male had been shot and that there was another suspect inside the residence," said RCMP Cpl. Chris Manseau.
Neighbour Mike Barrowcliff heard the shot while he was sitting on his deck across the street.
"A girl came out of the house quite distraught and saying someone was going to die and needed an ambulance: ‘Could somebody help me please?’" Barrowcliff says.
He says the RCMP arrived on scene moments later with their weapons drawn.
"It was surreal,” Barrowcliff says. “You don't expect it to be on your street but 'surreal' is the best word I can use for it.”
Barrowcliff says police told neighbours to remain inside their homes while they dealt with the situation.
Another neighbour, Dylan Gauthier, says the home was the scene of frequent family disputes.
"Bickering next door is kind of common so I thought maybe there was just a dispute,” Gauthier says. “I didn't really think much of the guns being drawn other than maybe [for] their protection but the more that we heard of what was going on we realized it was a little more serious than that.”
Members of the BC SPCA arrived at the home Monday afternoon to remove two dogs from the rear of the property.
The RCMP say their investigation at the scene could take several days.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.