Man targeted in weekend Kelowna shooting dies during police incident

A man who escaped a brazen shoot-out on Saturday night in Kelowna with minorinjuries has now died during a police incident.

West Kelowna resident Kyle Gianis, 37, was pronounced dead Thursday at an Enderbycampground after police were called to respond to reports of an assault.

The circumstances around Gianis's death were reported by theIndependent Investigations Office (IIO), B.C.'s police watchdog. Itinvestigates anyofficer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death.

According to the IIO, police received a report shortly after midnight on Thursday thata man Gianis had allegedly assaulted two women with a weapon at a campground. Gianis also appeared to have a self-inflicted injury.

Police, including members of the Southeast District Emergency Response Team, found Gianisat2 a.m. They approached him using tear gas and a40mm less-lethal round, the IIO says.

Gianis was in medical distress, according to RCMP reports, and despite medical intervention, was eventually pronounced dead at the scene.

The two women sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Numerous attempts on his life

Gianis, who had served time in a U.S. prison for smuggling methamphetamine precursors,has faced numerous attempts on his life over the years.

In 2007,Gianis's house was shot at 14 times in one night.

CBC News has also confirmed Gianis wasthe intended target of a 2018 shooting that killed nurse Paul Bennett in Surrey.

Most recently, on Saturday, Gianisand a25-year-old resident of Surrey sustained injuries during the Kelowna shoot-out. While Gianisescaped with minor injuries dealt with by ashort hospital visit,the 25-year-old sustained life-threatening injuries.

After that shooting, police issued a public warning regarding Gianis, withKelowna RCMP's Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy saying the man posed a threat to the community.

"Because of his criminal activities and associates, Mr.Gianisposes a threat to our community and the public in general, and we are putting all our resources into investigating this newest incident," Noseworthy said in a release.

Gianisran a fitness company, and was active on social media, where he shared his love of weightlifting and stories of a rough upbringing.

He also used the platform to proclaimhis innocence of all rumoured crimes.