Residents ‘shelter in place’ as RCMP respond to incident in North Kamloops

Police have the 100 block of Yew Street blocked off in Kamloops this afternoon as officers respond to an incident with guns drawn.

Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn isn't sharing many details about the police operation today, July 20, but has asked the public to say away from the area.

A witness told iNFOnews.ca that the heavily armed emergency response team is on the scene with riot shields and guns drawn.

"It's like something out of a movie," Josh Fowler said. "It's hard to even capture it all, but there's cops cars as far as the eyes can see."

He hasn't heard gunshots, but he was told by a nearby witness there were some before Fowler got to the area around 2 p.m.

Police are calling on a megaphone, speaking to whoever is inside the house, Fowler said, but he isn't sure exactly which house police are surrounding. He did say that there's been multiple police responses to that block in the last month, which he can see from his home in a nearby condo.

"There's been lots of action," he said.

Residents in the area are asked to shelter in place while police are still in the area.

"I know the public is interested," Evelyn told iNFOnews.ca, adding that more information will be released once it's available.

— This story was updated at 5:03 p.m., July 20, 2022, with information and photos from Josh Fowler.

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