Youth shot while driving
EDITOR’S NOTE: In recognition of Canada’s 150th anniversary, The Herald is reprinting historic stories from the South Okanagan focusing on the biggest news story of each year.
NOVEMBER 24, 1962 – In good condition in Penticton Hospital today with a bullet wound in his back is Douglas Miller, 18, Kaleden.
Mr. Miller was shot in the back Friday about 7:50 p.m. while driving into Penticton. He said he believes the shot was fired from another car which was following him.
“This car was following me closely down Kruegar hill and I snubbed my brakes to make it get back a bit,” the wounded man said today.
“Then I heard a bang. I had just filled my lighter at home and I thought it had exploded in my pocket. I looked down to see if there as a hole in my pocket and I saw blood dripping from my shirt.”
Mr. Miller drove his car to the CKOK radio station where he works to seek help.
From the station he was taken to hospital by George Patterson and David Janzen, who were rehearsing a play in the building.
Said Mr. Patterson: “The bullet was to the lower right side of his back and there was stuffing from the car seat in the wound.”
RCMP said the bullet had gone through the trunk lid of Mr. Miller’s car and through the back supports of the rear and front seats before striking the driver.
“I don’t know who would have done it or why,” said the victim. “I can’t think of anybody who may have a grudge against me.”
He said he knew he had been shot after seeing the blood when he smelled gun powder in his car. “I was coming in to Penticton to see a friend at the radio station before taking my girlfriend to Teen Town,” Mr. Miller said. There was no response to a police announcement Friday night asking anyone who heard gun shots in the Skaha Lake area to report it to RCMP immediately. So far police know of no witnesses to the incident. RCMP believe a high powered weapon was used in the shooting. Mr. Patterson said he saw the wound when Mr. Miller was first examined at the hospital. “It must have been a big bullet, there was quite a hole in his back,” he said.