Man shot dead in Princeton, British Columbia, identified as Donald Lyons

Police have identified a man found dead in British Columbia's Interior last weekend as Donald “Donnie” Lyons.

Princeton Mounties responded to a report of shots fired around 2:30 p.m. last Saturday, according to the Southeast District Major Crimes Unit. Police found a man unconscious in a driveway on Princeton Summerland Road. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Thursday, RCMP confirmed the victim was 51-year-old Lyons.

Police say they are still investigating the suspicious death and believe the shooting was targeted and poses no ongoing risk to public safety.

Online court records indicate Lyons was a high-ranking member of the Independent Soldiers gang with a history of weapons and drug crimes.

A 2012 decision by the Supreme Court of British Columbia, in which Lyons challenged his transfer from a minimum security prison to a medium security prison, which was made due to threats to his safety within the establishment, indicates that he was serving a six-year sentence for various related offenses. drug trafficking and possession of prohibited weapons.

“These offenses stem from his involvement as a trusted and high-ranking member of the ‘Independent Soldiers,’ a criminal organization based in the Kelowna area,” the decision states.

The document notes that Lyons had claimed to have severed ties with the gang, but “the extent of his involvement cannot be understated.”

Public records also show Lyons was scheduled to stand trial on assault charges in Princeton in September. Additionally, he was scheduled to appear in Kelowna court in January on a charge of uttering threats, but he failed to appear and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Police are appealing for information into Lyons' murder, including dashcam video along Princeton Summerland Road between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on June 15. Anyone who “observed anything suspicious” is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 1-877-987-8477. .