Several people were shot and killed early Monday morning in the Canadian province of British Columbia, according to police. One suspect is in jail.

Authorities had previously issued an emergency alert regarding multiple shootings in Langley, encouraging locals to remain vigilant and avoid the area.

A Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman stated that "several victims" were involved in the event. The number was not specified in the statement.

When asked how many individuals had been hurt and how many had died, the representative stated that there were no additional details available. A second police spokeswoman said investigators from the Lower Mainland's serious crimes and integrated homicide investigation teams had been called in.

Police in Langley, a suburb of Vancouver, said they responded to "multiple reports of shots fired with several victims and several different scenes throughout the City of Langley, and one scene in the Township of Langley" and asked the public to stay away from a casino parking lot and a bus stop, among other areas.

In an alert sent to the cellphones of B.C. citizens, police stated that the shootings included "transient victims" The sign indicated that the suspect was a Caucasian man wearing overalls and a camouflage T-shirt.

A Reuters reporter observed two black SUVs resembling those used by police emergency response teams in a ditch close to one of the shooting scenes. One vehicle's windscreen was riddled with bullet holes.