Four murder charges laid in Penticton shootings

PENTICTON (NEWS 1130) – Murder charges have been approved against a 68-year-old man in Monday’s quadruple killing in Penticton.

John Brittain has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one of second-degree murder.

Four people were found dead at three locations on Monday. Police received initial reports of a possible shooting at around 10:30 a.m., prompting Mounties to warn people to avoid the city’s downtown area.

A 71-year-old man was killed outside a duplex. Police believe the suspect then drove about five kilometres, and three other people were attacked in two homes in that area.

The suspect turned himself in to the RCMP detachment at around 11:30 a.m.

“He was unarmed when he came to the front counter and he was immediately taken into custody,” said RCMP Supt. Ted De Jager.

Mounties say Brittain and the victims — who were in their 60s and 70s — knew each other.

“We have confirmed that the [accused’s] ex-wife is not one of the victims,” said De Jager.

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Brittain worked for the City of Penticton from 2011 to 2016.

“I knew him — at the time, I was a councillor. But I didn’t really know too much more about him other than that he was an employee of the City of Penticton,” Mayor John Vassilaki said.

“He was a gentleman. He did his job well. He was very in favour of what our community was doing, was always involved in community matters — him and his wife,” he added.

Vassilaki says he was “saddened” to learn he is the accused. “Things like that usually don’t happen in Penticton — especially with people that most of us know and have known for some time.”

Brittain’s Vancouver-based boss Kelly Sherman says that, up until yesterday, Brittain worked for him as a part-time civil engineer for two years in the Okanagan.

“We were shocked and saddened by this incident and our thoughts go out to the friends and family of the deceased,” Sherman says. “We spent the day down there with the team and making sure everybody’s okay.”

He says yesterday’s violence has shocked and saddened everyone who worked with the man he describes as mild-mannered. Brittain was soft spoken and quiet, Sherman says, and there was no indication he was upset or dealing with anything. The accused no longer works for him.

The mayor says he’s proud of the way his community has come together in the wake of the killings.

“The RCMP put out the report and parts of the city were locked down. Everybody cooperated and looked after each other to make sure no further damage was done within the community.”

In a statement on the City of Penticton’s website, Vassilaki calls the incident “devastating and catastrophic,” adding it has “shaken everyone who calls Penticton home or who regularly visits our beautiful community.”

Investigators believe this was a targeted incident. The victims’ names have not been released.

“There is no further danger in this matter to the community. The person that we have in custody, we are confident that he acted alone,” said De Jager.

He says support services are in place to help people who were affected by the killings.

Brittain appeared in court Tuesday morning. His case has been adjourned until May 8.

 – With files from the Canadian Press