麻豆AV

The man killed in a Friday night targeted shooting has been identified as Joel Pennell.

Pennell owned a company called Traphouse Skateboards which was registered to the West 麻豆AV address on McTaggart Road that police were called to with a report of shots fired. He was found dead in a vehicle in the driveway.

In a press release issued hours after the shooting Cpl. Jesse O鈥橠onaghey deemed the death a homicide and said that the victim lived a 鈥渉igh-risk lifestyle鈥� and 鈥渨as well known to police.鈥�

In fact, court records show Pennell faced a dozen separate drug trafficking charges and weapon-related charges in 2011.

The Prince George Citizen wrote in 2013 that Pennell had been dealing drugs for about a year when he was arrested on charges stemming from that activity. At that time he was also a student at the College of New Caledonia studying business.

While at the college, Pennell fell in with some people involved in drug trafficking and began to deal himself .

The Citizen reported that the sentencing judge found Pennell to be 鈥渟ignificantly motivated by personal gain, was involved in mid-level drug trafficking of cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy and was found with a sawed off shotgun when arrested, albeit unloaded at the time.鈥�

They also noted Pennell had 鈥渟olid support from his family, and had moved to the Okanagan where he started up two new businesses with the help of a partner.鈥�

While in the Okanagan, Pennell built a reputation for being a 鈥済ood kid鈥� to neighbours in the West 麻豆AV neighbourhood where he died. Sources have said he was expected to be married this month.

Friends of Pennell are mourning his lost on social media.

Related: Victim of suspected shooting described as a 鈥榞ood kid鈥�

Jay Provencher, who lives across the street from the McTaggart Road address said while he didn鈥檛 know Pennell to live at the home, his family did.

鈥淗e was a great kid,鈥� said Provencher. 鈥淗e鈥檚 helped my wife shovel the driveway, he helped my next door neighbour shovel the driveway. They helped out when they were living here.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty heartbreaking to be honest with you. It鈥檚 pretty surreal, what happened in this little neighbourhood. It鈥檚 something you never imagine would happened.鈥�

The RCMP is currently searching for a white four-door Volkswagen sedan believed to be involved with the shooting.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the West 麻豆AV RCMP General Investigations Section at 250-768-2880. Or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, leaving a tip online at or by texting tip to CRIMES.