Investigators were staged outside the third entrance of Nanaimo's Woodgrove Centre on Thursday. Feb 12 in response to a shooting the prior afternoon. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW staff

shooting

One person shot outside Nanaimo’s Woodgrove Centre

Feb 12, 2026 | 1:30 PM

NANAIMO — Police say a person was shot during a commotion outside a mall entrance near the Woodgrove Centre bus loop.

It happened on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at around 3:30 p.m. outside the third entrance when a confrontation between a group of youths broke out, according to Nanaimo RCMP Res. Cst. Gary O’Brien.

“Involving a group of individuals where bear spray was produced, and in turn, another individual produced a firearm. One [youth] was shot. That person was taken to hospital on their own accord, treated for a non-life-threatening injury and later released.”

The victim is expected to make a full recovery.

Police initially responded to the call on Wednesday, but were unable to get a full picture of what transpired until the next morning, O’Brien said.

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“We were on scene, but the people involved were less than cooperative and we had conflicting reports, which didn’t help us move the investigation forward. We know that the shooter and the victim are known to each other, and we believe this is an isolated incident.”

The northeast, third entrance to Woodgrove Centre was temporarily closed on Thursday as police investigated at least one bullet casing found on the ground outside. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

A witness discovered a shell casing Thursday morning and was interviewed by Nanaimo RCMP investigators.

The mall’s third entrance was temporarily closed on Thursday morning, but the rest of the mall’s operations were unaffected.

O’Brien said they’re asking for any witnesses or anyone with footage of the incident to contact them, as they work to try to identify the shooter.

Several employees of businesses inside the mall were also interviewed by police on Thursday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 1-250-754-2345.

Evidence markers on the ground in front of the third entrance to Woodgrove Centre. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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