WHISTLER, British Columbia (AP) - Residents of this ski resort and 2010 Olympics site north of Vancouver were stunned by its first slaying in 30 years - a shooting that took place in plain view of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer.

Mayor Ken Melamed told the Vancouver Province that the killing, which came as nightclubs started closing early Saturday, was "of grave concern," while a city councilor stressed that it was an isolated case.

As patrons emptied out of the clubs and milled about Village Square, a fight broke out between two groups, said Cpl. Dale Carr of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. One man pulled a gun and shot another in front of an RCMP officer and his police dog.

The officer and dog gave chase and caught the suspect, a Surrey resident known to police, nearby. No charges have yet been filed; the man is scheduled to appear in North Vancouver Provincial Court on Monday. It was not clear if the shooter had been in any of the clubs.

The victim was described as a 26-year-old man from Coquitlam.

For several years, Whistler has teamed up with police agencies from southern British Columbia to maintain a strong presence in the village - especially on the weekends and during holidays, when the population of the otherwise quiet town can swell to tens of thousands.

As of late Saturday, there were at least six officers patrolling the village on foot.

"Our message is: Don't bring your issues to the village because we are highly policed and we will get you," said Inspector Norm McPhail.

Whistler Councilor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden, a resident since 1973, said she was upset about the shooting but added: "I am personally convinced that Whistler is safe. This is an isolated incident."

The police tape at a busy intersection of the pedestrian resort caught visitors by surprise this weekend.

"I've been coming here for years and sure, the party scene is busy," said Peter Miles, a tourist from Washington state. "But I never thought this could happen."

In 2003, there was a stabbing in the resort outside one of the nightclubs.

Since then, clubs have set up communication systems to warn each other of troublemakers. Some also use metal detectors to check for weapons.