First degree murder charge for 25-year-old who allegedly shot senior in Salmon Arm church

SALMON ARM – A 25-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder following the shooting at a Salmon Arm church yesterday.

Matrix Savage Gathergood will appear in court Apr. 23 charged with the first-degree murder of Gordon Parmenter. Gathergood is also facing charges of aggravated assault of Paul Derkach and a third charge of having his face masked with intent to commit an indictable offence.

Parmenter was shot while at the Salmon Arm Church of Christ at around 10:30 a.m. Apr. 14. Gathergood had entered the church with a rifle and witnesses said he shot Parmenter and Derkach before being wrestled to the ground by a group of parishioners who seized his rifle. Parmenter was pronounced dead at the scene, while Derkach was taken to hospital in stable condition.

The RCMP has said they do not believe the shooting was religiously motivated and at least one of the victims was known to Gathergood.

RCMP officers were at the Church of Christ, along with the B.C. Coroners Service on the morning Apr. 15. Officers could be seen flying a drone over the church.

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