Nova Scotia RCMP are investigating after a vehicle was hit by gunfire while driving through a First Nation community in Cape Breton early Wednesday.
No one was injured in the incident in We’koqma’q and the vehicle does not appear to have been targeted.
“We don’t believe that there’s an imminent or credible threat to public safety,” said Cpl. Chris Marshall. “We just think that basically it was as the vehicle was travelling down the highway [and] unfortunately it was struck by one of these bullets that was fired.”
He said RCMP received a report of several shots fired around 1:30 a.m. AT.
While RCMP were patrolling the community around 7:45 a.m., a hardware store in nearby Whycocomagh reported that ammunition had been taken during a break-in sometime overnight, Marshall said.
Marshall said the incidents appear to be related, but no suspects have been identified.
Community may reopen in afternoon
None of the highways in the area were closed, but local businesses, the We’koqma’q band office and local school chose to shut down for the morning.
Marshall said that was not based on advice from RCMP and they could reopen in the afternoon, if they wished.
According to a community Facebook page, openings were to be reassessed in the afternoon.
In addition to the social media notice, the community used its own alert system to notify the public of the incident and advise them to remain indoors.
RCMP are asking anyone with information to call the Port Hawkesbury detachment at 902-625-2220 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.