Nanaimo RCMP have laid a single charge against a man well known to them following the March 12 shooting of a local Nanaimo business owner. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)
high profile shooting

Firearms charge laid against Nanaimo man following Terminal Ave. shooting

Mar 27, 2023 | 9:29 AM

NANAIMO — A local man remains in custody ahead of his next court appearance on a firearms charge, after a man was shot on Terminal Ave.

Craig Edward Truckle, 37, faces the single count of point firearm without lawful excuse, laid in connection to a March 12 incident where a local business owner was shot in the abdomen after an altercation at a nearby encampment involving allegedly stolen tools.

“Truckle was arrested without incident in downtown Nanaimo by front-line officers and taken into police custody,” a police statement said. The arrest occurred around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22.

Police said at the time Clint Smith, a 49-year-old owner of Ernie’s Blackpoint Repair, was seriously injured after he and a group of people went into an encampment at Barsby Park to retrieve allegedly stolen tools from the victim’s mechanics shop.

A fight ensued and while leaving with the tools, the group was shot at several times with at least one round hitting Clint Smith.

Truckle’s criminal history dates back to 2003 and includes charges of theft, possession of stolen property, breaches of undertaking and failure to appear.

His next court appearance is Tuesday, March 28.

At last update, Smith remained in hospital following multiple surgeries.

“I indeed was shot several times. I have about a foot less colon now. Have had three surgeries,” Smith wrote. “It is indeed dire. I was in a long medical induced coma while the professionals at NRGH worked furiously to save my life.”

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