NOTE: This article has been updated. The dog that was shot is receiving care.
A residential area in Nanaimo was cordoned off as police conducted an investigation after a dog was shot.
Nanaimo RCMP were near Rosehill Street and Holly Avenue on Saturday, Sept. 27 just after 10 a.m. Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson, told the News Bulletin a dog was shot and while he was initially told the dog had died, he said later that it was alive and in veterinary care. O’Brien said it appears the incident wasn’t random and no person was injured.
“We’re not clear of any relationship or motives behind the shooting at this point,” he said. “The suspect remains at large and unidentified. We believe it’s a targeted incident, so there should be no risk to the public.”
Dusty Smith, an area resident, said he heard shots ringing out.
“They were definitely gunshots; I was raised around guns up north, hunter parents, it sounded like a hit like, ‘bang, bang, bang, bang, bang’ and I came down,” said Smith. “Didn’t see any chaos, except for a half-naked guy, pants, no shirt, run to the corner, whip out his phone, and it looked like he was recording someone [running away].”
O’Brien said police canvassed the scene collecting forensic evidence and were anticipating releasing more information after press time.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP’s non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
#RCMP on scene at Rosehill St.- Holly Ave. area in #Nanaimo. Rosehill, at Holly blocked off. pic.twitter.com/0YWcrJh5UN
— Karl Yu (@KarlYuBulletin) September 27, 2025
