Investigators say the man who was the subject of a public alert and police manhunt in the Chilliwack, B.C., area after a fatal shooting last Thursday has been found dead.
The body of Eric John Shestalo was found Monday near Bridal Falls, east of the Fraser Valley city. Preliminary findings indicate he committed suicide, police said.
“The autopsy is pending and the investigation continues,” read a statement from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) on Tuesday.
Police launched a wide-ranging search for Shestalo, 50, after a shooting in Chilliwack on Thursday that left two women dead and a man injured.
On Saturday, police said they located Shestalo’s red and yellow Jeep YJ in Bridal Falls. Before the discovery, police had warned the public to use caution if they spotted Shestalo, to call 911 and to stay away from him.
Victims identified
RCMP said Shestalo and the victims knew each other, but did not specify how.
The dead women have been identified as Amber Culley, 43, and Mimi Kates, 49.
Culley’s family released a statement through IHIT on Tuesday.
“He was the most loving, generous, compassionate and courageous human being we have ever known,” it said.
“We will miss her, but we will never let a murderer snuff out her bright light or destroy the lives of our young children. Her children were her world.”
The statement did not say how many children Culley had.
Amber Culley, 43, was one of two women shot and killed in Chilliwack, BC on July 21.
Reassuring the public
With several shootings in southwestern B.C. in recent weeks, McDonald said he wanted to reassure British Columbians that police are there to protect them. He also thanked the public who provided information that helped advance various police investigations.
“As a parent and as a spouse, I have the same questions as you,” he said at a news conference Monday.
“‘Am I safe? What do the police do? And can I trust them?’
“I want to assure you that the RCMP … is committed not only to keeping you safe, but also to apprehending those responsible for these crimes.”
McDonald said the recent incidents are a “stark reminder” of the danger police officers face.
“Whether it’s engaging and stopping a vehicle with suspects fleeing a violent, targeted homicide, responding to an active shooter event and stopping that threat, or searching for an armed homicide suspect in a remote wooded area, the our police officers are here for you.” he said