One dead in Renfrew, Ont., shooting, police say suspect at large

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a fatal shooting in the town of Renfrew, Ont., late Friday evening. 

Police officers were called to a home on Vimy Boulevard just before 10:30 p.m. Friday, OPP said in a release.

When they arrived, police say they found a person who had sustained gunshot wounds. They were taken to hospital, where they were pronounced dead. 

The suspect fled before officers got there, OPP said. As of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, no arrests had been announced.

OPP issued a public safety warning for the town early Saturday morning, but it has since been lifted. 

Police say they believe the victim was targeted and that the shooting is an isolated incident. They have not yet been identified. 

When asked why no information about the suspect had yet been released, OPP said they could not provide details that would “jeopardize the integrity of the investigation.”

Residents should expect to see a high police presence in the area of the shooting, police said. 

Neighbours have prior safety concerns

Marianne Moseley, a neighbour, said she first heard of the shooting last night after getting a call from a friend telling her to look outside. 

From her front steps, Moseley said she could see several police cruisers and ambulances. She said she saw one person brought out of a home on a stretcher and placed in an ambulance that drove away. 

“This is the most serious thing our neighbourhood has seen since I’ve been living here — almost six years,” she said. 

She said the home where the incident happened has been a “problem house” for some time now. 

Another neighbour — whom CBC agreed not to name because she fears for her safety — agreed.

“I can’t really describe the feeling of knowing that somebody was shot right across the street from my home where I have two children,” she said. “But given it is a frequent drug area, we’re not really surprised.

“Hopefully now, this will be the last of the chaos over there.”

Mayor calls for patience

Renfrew Mayor Tom Sidney said some people in town are scared and worried after hearing about the shooting, adding there’s concern of “rising gun violence” in the area. 

“From my perspective, we don’t tolerate violence and basically, enough is enough,” he said. “You want to make sure that everybody’s safe and protected and not living in fear.”

Incidents like these don’t happen in Renfrew very often, Sidney said. 

“It”s not something that we’re familiar with. That makes it more difficult for residents because it isn’t something that we’re accustomed to,” he added. 

While it’s natural for people to want to know more about what happened, Sidney said people shouldn’t jump to conclusions. 

“I just encourage the residents of Renfrew to just hold tight. When we get more information, we will definitely pass it on.” 

OPP said the investigation is ongoing. Renfrew is located approximately 100 kilometres west of downtown Ottawa.