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Suspect arrested in relation to Celista shooting that killed one man, injured two others

Richard Allen Williams was arrested on Thursday and made his first appearance in Kamloops provincial court on Friday afternoon.
94664salmonarmRCMPimage
RCMP

By Tim Petruk, Kamloops This Week

A suspect has been arrested in connection to a Feb. 7 shooting in the Shuswap that killed one person and injured two others.

Richard Allen Williams was arrested on Thursday and made his first appearance in Kamloops provincial court on Friday afternoon.

Evidence presented during the brief hearing is bound by a court-ordered publication ban.

Williams, 59, is facing a raft of serious charges including attempted murder, discharging a firearm with the intent to wound, maim or disfigure, assault with a firearm, aggravated assault and break and enter.

After the shooting, which occurred in Celista, police said three men were sent to hospital. Two were reported to be in critical condition and one had minor injuries.

“We can confirm that this incident was not a random occurrence and that the individuals involved were known to each other,” Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said earlier this week.

“We are always concerned for the safety of the general public when incidents such as this occur in our communities; however, as is in many cases such as this one, we can state that the violence seen was not a random act direct at random people.”

Police issued a press release Friday night saying one of the victims had died. The deceased has not been identified.

Charges relating to the fatality have not yet been laid.

Williams remains in custody and is due back in court on Feb. 18.