Man faces murder charges in slayings of two men, two women in Penticton
PENTICTON, B.C. — A retired city employee has been charged with four counts of murder after a series of shootings in Penticton, B.C., closed a large swath of the community Monday during a police response involving dozens of officers.
Dan McLaughlin of the B.C. prosecution service said Tuesday that three counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder have been laid against John Brittain, 68.
Mayor John Vassilaki said Brittain was an employee of the city’s engineering department for several years before he retired and he was “very saddened” when he learned of the charges.
“He was a gentleman. He did his job well,” Vassilaki told a news conference. “He was very in favour of what our community was doing, was always involved in community matters, him and his wife.”