Man who fatally shot woman in Prince Rupert office mall dies, say police

RCMP say a man who fatally shot a woman at an office mall in downtown Prince Rupert, B.C., on Monday morning has now died of self-inflicted injuries.

The 44-year-old man entered Ocean Centre Mall and shot the woman before "turning the gun on himself," at around 8:30 a.m. PT, said Prince Rupert RCMP spokesperson Const. Brody Hemrich. 

RCMP say the man knew the woman who was killed.

He was taken to hospital in critical condition, but was dead by Monday evening.

"The Prince Rupert RCMP is here to stand by and serve the community during this tough time," Hemrich said in a news release. 

"The investigation is still ongoing and we are still asking those who may have seen anything, have dash camera footage or security footage to come forward."

Few other details have been released about the incident in the northwestern coastal city, but in a written statement, RCMP Cpl Madonna Saunderson said police "know the traumatic impact this incident will have on many people." 

Prince Rupert RCMP cordoned off the block around Ocean Centre Mall, a multi-use complex and workspace downtown that includes government offices, an alternative school and a cafe, while the investigation was underway.

Julea Ocampo, co-owner of the Fresh Onion Cafe in the building, said she heard "multiple gunshots" as she was opening up around 8:30 a.m.

Ocampo said her co-worker rushed into the cafe kitchen and told her, "I think there's somebody shooting outside."

The women called 911 and hid inside the cafe until the RCMP arrived.

Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond called it "truly tragic." He said his office in city hall, one block away, was locked down for about 90 minutes. 

"A lot of our staff knew ...  the individuals involved," he told CBC News. 

"In a town of roughly 12,000 souls, everybody knows everybody. There's hardly a person in town that isn't impacted."