Vernon’s first homicide victim of the year has been identified.

Lucien Joseph Gauthier, 27, was found dead on the driveway of a home on McIntosh Road late Friday night after police responded to a call of shots fired at around 10:30 p.m.

Vernon RCMP spokesman Gord Molendyk says a vehicle was reported leaving the scene and stopped nearby.

“A male and female were taken into custody. The two were interviewed and have since been released without charges,” says Molendyk.

He says a search warrant was executed Saturday on the residence where the shooting took place.

“The police have now completed their investigation at the crime scene and are no longer on site.”

Molendyk says Gauthier was known to police and they don’t believe his death was a random act.

An autopsy is expected to be performed in Penticton sometime Monday.

Link: Man gunned down on McIntosh Road