3 dead, 1 injured after shooting in rural Vancouver Island community

Police are investigating after the discovery Sunday ofthree bodies and another person who wasinjured in a popular off-roading area near arural Vancouver Island community.

RCMP saida man was riding a motorcycleon Melrose Forest Service Road in Qualicum Beach, B.C., shortly after 2 p.m. PT Sunday, when he came across a man who was unresponsive. Qualicum Beach is about 160 kilometres northwest of Victoria.

The motorcyclist immediately called police and other first responders.

Paramedics and police found the man and confirmed he was dead. They found a burnt-out travel trailer nearby with two people dead inside.

They also discovered a man in another trailer who appeared to have been shot.

WATCH | Aerial view of crime scene:

Aerial view of remote Vancouver Island crime scene

4 years ago

Duration 0:57

Video recorded from a helicopter shows a crime scene in Whiskey Creek, near Qualicum Beach, B.C. Three people were found dead and another was injured in what police believe was "an isolated incident."

B.C. Emergency Health Services saidthe injuredman was taken to the Qualicum Beach airport, where he was airliftedto hospital in critical condition.Police said the manis now stable.

"Initial findings lead investigators to believe that this isan isolated incident between parties well known to one another," Cpl. Jesse Foreman with theRCMP said in a written statement.

"We do not believe there is any ongoing risk to the public."

Residents said the areawhere the bodies were found is a popular spot for off-roading recreation.

Mike Johnson was on his way to dosome off-road 4x4 drivingwhen he foundthe area blocked off witha cluster ofmediain attendance.

Johnson, who lives in nearbyErrington, said it's a quiet area that sometimes getssummer campers and hasfew problems other than some illegal trash dumping, or the occasional person passed out in the bush from too much to drink.

"This whole area is like a giant off-road park," hesaid.

"This kind of thing just doesn't happen out here."

High-school student Cooper Selvasaid he hadjust returnedfrom dirt-biking in the area when he learned the bodies had been discovered near where he rides with his friends.

"They're probably dirt bike riders, too, and it scares me," Selva said. "It makes me just want to stay home and not be active and go outside."

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit has taken over the investigation.

The B.C. Coroners Service saidit isinvestigating the deathsin the Whiskey Creek area, about 10 minutes southwest of Qualicum Beach.

The coronerdid not provide more details, including where the people died or any of their identities.

RCMPare askinganyone with dashcam footage or trail-camera video from the areato call itstip line at 250-380-6211.