Man, child injured during officer-involved shooting; B.C.'s police watchdog investigating
B.C.'s police watchdog says it's investigating an officer-involved shooting that sent a man and a child to hospital over the weekend.
Mounties in Merritt say were trying to stop a truck Sunday that was believed to have stolen property on a flat-deck trailer. Just before 4 p.m., officers tried to pull the truck over but the driver fled from police.
The team spotted the truck again at about 5:30 p.m., but this time without the trailer. Police used a spike belt, and while the vehicle initially stopped, the driver eventually continued, and allegedly fired gunshots at officers. Police were seen collecting shell casings from the area on Monday.
After driving with blown out rear tires for several minutes, the driver eventually came to stop on Highway 8 near Snake Road and Highway 97C.
Merritt resident Kelly Prosper was visiting his uncle with his three young children when the truck stopped in front of the yard. Prosper said he saw a gun in the driver’s hand.
“I was terrified," he said.
According to Prosper, the driver got out of the vehicle and opened fire on the police officers pursuing him. He estimated roughly 200 rounds went off in a span of three minutes.
“We hit the ground. There were bullets flying everywhere," he said.
Prosper assumes the suspect had an automatic gun. The bullets flew just metres away from his kids, aged seven, eight, and 12.
“I didn’t know what to do. I ran and grabbed my kids and put them inside. My other son was in the field because he hid behind a tractor.”
B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office said a man in his 40s and his 11-year-old child were inside the truck. The IIO said the man suffered at least one gunshot wound. The child was also seriously hurt, but was seen walking towards police with his hands up once the shootout ended.
“We’re not exactly sure how his injuries were caused,” sid Ron MacDonald, chief civilian director of the IIO. “His injuries are not life threatening, nor are the adult male’s.”
Police say nobody else was hurt. The IIO is now investigating to determine whether police actions or inactions are linked to the two injuries.
The IIO is asking anyone with information about the incident to call its witness tip line at 1-855-446-8477.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.