Mounties enter a home on Thatcher Rd. in South Wellington on Wednesday morning, after shots were fired into the residence Tuesday afternoon. The home is located across the street from Eaglequest Golf Centre.  (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

'our office emptied'

One arrested south of Nanaimo after shots fired into rural home

May 28, 2025 | 9:37 AM

NANAIMO — A swift and sizeable police response led to a quick arrest of a man accused of firing a shotgun into a home in the rural South Wellington area.

Multiple police cruisers were seen driving at high speeds on Tuesday, May 27 just before 3 p.m. south on the the Old Island Hwy. and Trans Canada Hwy., bound for Thatcher Rd. where shots were heard coming from a home.

Nanaimo RCMP Res. Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW officers responded quickly.

“Our office emptied, we had police officers going code three to that call. We arrived on scene we saw a male walking out of the home. He was taken into custody without incident, and a shotgun was found nearby.

Officers had to wait for a warrant before entering the house for their investigation on the morning of Wednesday, May 28. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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O’Brien added a subsequent search of the home did not turn up anyone inside.

He said while it’s early in their investigation, it appears the 38-year-old man was trying to gain entry into the house, which he ultimately did.

The man remains in police custody ahead of a court appearance on Wednesday, May 28, however no formal charges had been laid as of Wednesday morning.

Police believe this was an isolated incident.

“Based on everything we found to date, there’s no further risk to the public. It’s an ongoing investigation, so we really can’t talk to what was behind the motive for this but safe to say, it appears to be isolated.”

Several calls were made to NanaimoNewsNOW just prior to 3 p.m. Thursday, describing nearly a dozen cars driving “warp speed” down the highway before staging in South Wellington, near the property.

The speed is representative of a “code three” response, which is used in an urgent situation and results in lights and sirens being used.

O’Brien added their response did hit some hurdles en route.

“What we found in this particular case, there were a number of cars for whatever reason, just ignoring the fact that they had these police cars piling behind them trying to get by. It delayed our response, and in turn what that does is it increases the jeopardy, and the risk to the general public, it’s unacceptable.”

The Motor Vehicle Act requires vehicles to pull off to the side of the road when safe to do so, and allow emergency vehicles to pass them when lights and sirens are activated.

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