The Independent Investigations Office is launching a probe into the armed standoff that ended with police shooting a man at the Starlight Casino in New Westminster Thursday.
Early Thursday morning, a distraught man with a gun took a woman hostage at the casino after a domestic dispute.
A witness said he heard screaming and saw a woman being dragged into the bushes near the casino. Another witness said he heard three shots fired in the parking lot.
The IIO said police responded to a 911 call and found a man in the casino parking lot.
CTV British Columbia's Nafeesa Karim said the woman, who has a relationship with the man, was released and is not injured.
Throughout the morning, police could be heard over a megaphone pleading with the man to put down the gun and sent a robot to deliver a cell phone to him. At around 10:45 a.m. the man was shot by police and sustained serious injuries, according to the IIO.
In Pictures: Armed standoff at Starlight Casino
Insp. Phil Eastwood said numerous police resources were deployed to deal with the incident. The IIO has taken over the investigation.
The standoff caused major traffic delays in the area. The Queensborough Bridge was closed in both directions and transit was backed up as busses were rerouted.
The bridge was reopened at 11 a.m.
