POLICE – Reports of shots being fired bring officers to river’s edge

Two suspects have been identified in connection with reports of shots being fired along the south shore of the North Thompson River near Victoria Street West early yesterday afternoon (July 21, 2026).

Police from the Kamloops detachment and and Tk’emlúps rural detachment responded to the incident.

At about 1:05 p.m. Tuesday, police from both detachments responded to two reports of shots being fired.

“As part of the coordinated response to support frontline police, our Forensic Identification Section deployed a drone to assist with the search,” said Cpl. Dana Napier.

“During the early stages of the file, investigators have learned that a robbery took place and two people of interest have been identified.”

In another incident, on July 16, RCMP investigators, with assistance from the Southeast District Emergency Response Team (ERT), executed a search warrant at a property in the 1200-block of 12th Street.

One man was arrested without incident, and the investigation continues.

“The Emergency Response Team was deployed as a precautionary measure to assist with the safe execution of the search warrant,” said Napier, spokesperson for the Kamloops RCMP Detachment. “The arrest was completed without incident, and we appreciate the public’s cooperation and patience throughout the operation.”

As a result of the investigation, Robert Owen Alger, 61, of Kamloops, has been charged with offences related to possession of a firearm and child sexual abuse and exploitation material, as well as uttering threats.

Alger remains in custody and is next scheduled to appear in court on July 24, 2026. The investigation remains ongoing.

As the matter is now before the courts, no further details will be released at this time, police said.

Anyone with information related to these events can contact the Kamloops RCMP Detachment at 250-828-3000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) and cite file 2026-23747.