John Ike Koopmans has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in connection with a triple shooting that occurred in Princeton on the weekend.
The 49-year-old Princeton man did not make an appearance at the Penticton courthouse on Tuesday. Koopmans was sent straight to remand and will make his next appearance on April 29.
Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said Robert Keith Wharton, 44, and Rosemary (Rose) Fox, 32, were killed and another man injured after a shooting on Saturday at approximately 9:45 p.m. at a property on Old Hedley Road in Princeton.
“The male victim was transported to Princeton hospital and then transferred to another hospital for more advanced care where he remains in serious condition. Two other individuals, a male and female, were found deceased inside one of the buildings on the property,” said Moskaluk.
The name of the man sent to hospital is not being released by RCMP and Moskaluk said he suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound but is in stable condition.
RCMP said information gathered so far indicate all parties involved were from the Princeton area and were known to each other. Mounties arrested Koopmans around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday without incident in Princeton but would not provide any further information as to where or how he was apprehended.
“With respect to motives, the backgrounds of these individuals, these are the types of details that will come out in court through the court proceedings,” said Moskaluk.
Residents in the Old Hedley Road area in Princeton told the Similkameen Spotlight that they were awakened on Sunday morning by the sounds of officers calling out on a megaphone in the areas of Tulameen Avenue, Angela Avenue and Pine Street. Numerous police vehicles and officers were seen in the area.
The Southeast District Major Crime Unit from Kelowna is leading the investigation with the appropriate resources remaining in Princeton. No further details are being released at this time. The RCMP Southeast District Major Crimes Unit and RCMP Victim Assistance staff continue to provide support to the affected families.