A 62-year-old man seriously wounded in a double shooting that rocked the quiet seaside village of Cowichan Bay has died in hospital.
RCMP confirmed that Dennis Kurt Van Dooren died Wednesday afternoon from gunshot wounds sustained in an April 8 altercation with a 54-year-old Cowichan Bay man.
Police are not releasing the name of that man, but area residents say it's Ray Bouchard, a handyman who has lived in the area for several years.
Police are not recommending charges be laid against Bouchard in Van Dooren's death.
Cpl. Darren Lagan, RCMP spokesman, said independent witnesses have identified Van Dooren as the aggressor in the altercation and said the shooting was an act of self-defence. That testimony is supported by the physical evidence, Lagan said.
"Ultimately, Crown will review the evidence and decide whether there will be any charges, but we're not recommending any," he said.
Several witnesses saw the altercation, said police said. The two men, who were known to each other, were arguing in front of the Bluenose Marina before 8 a.m. when the handgun was produced.
RCMP are not saying whether Van Dooren brought out the gun, but confirm that the weapon was his.
Details on how the argument progressed are not being released, but both men were shot twice.
Van Dooren, who was shot in the face and arm, was airlifted to Victoria General Hospital. He was listed in critical condition, and never regained consciousness.
Bouchard was also shot in the face and elsewhere on his body, but his wounds were minor. He was treated at Cowichan Bay Hospital before being interviewed by police and released.
Police searched Van Dooren's sailboat, which was moored at Bluenose Marina, and concluded the only weapon involved was Van Dooren's unregistered handgun, which is still in police possession.
Lagan, who would not confirm the name of the 54-year-old, said the decision to maintain the man's privacy was made because of the rumours circulating in the small community of Cowichan Bay.
"There have been significant rumours," Lagan said, "which is why we're releasing more information than we normally would in this situation. It's important to do so, so that any false information out there that he was the aggressor be quashed. It's important for him that we clarify some of that misinformation."
Police will forward their findings to Duncan Crown counsel, who will make a decision on whether to proceed with charges.
