RCMP search for armed suspect after hotel altercation sends officer to hospital

RCMP are looking for a suspect after a confrontation at a Kamloops hotel sent an officer to hospital on Saturday.

The incident began when an officer noticed a suspicious-looking group in the parking lot of the Tournament Inn at 5:20 p.m. He approached to investigate, which led to an attempt to arrest a male suspect.

In a statement, police said the man struggled with the officer and pulled a gun. RCMP said the officer grabbed his own pistol and shots were fired.

Kamloops RCMP have now finished their investigation of the scene and say they now believe the suspect did not shoot at the officer.

"We determined that while our suspect did produce a firearm and he threatened to shoot the police officer, he did not fire his firearm," said Cpl. Jodi Shelkie with the Kamloops RCMP.

After shots were fired, police say the suspect ran from the scene. He hasn't been located. 

On Sunday, RCMP identified the suspect as Michael Shawn Boyer. The 41-year-old Kamloops man is described as Caucasian, 6'1", 180 pounds with a buzz-cut brown hair.

Family speaks out

On Sunday, a member of Boyer's family reached out to media and urged him to turn himself in.

Boyer is known to police and considered armed and dangerous. RCMP didn't say if he was shot and they're not sure if he ran away or if he's inside the inn.

Cpl. Jodi Shelkie said officers have a perimeter set up around the hotel and are searching for Boyer. The public is asked to avoid the area around the inn.

She said this incident hasn't been linked to a series of other violent events that have unfolded recently in the community.

Shelkie said the officer who first approached the group wasn't shot, but did suffer a non-life threatening injury in the struggle. He was treated in hospital and has since been released.

Anyone who sees Boyer should keep their distance and call 911. Those with information about the incident should call Kamloops RCMP at (250) 828-3000.