Man arrested after shots fired in Railtown apartment, Vancouver police say
A man who triggered a lockdown at an apartment building in Vancouver’s Railtown neighbourhood by firing shots inside a suite Sunday night has been arrested is facing firearms charges, according to police.
The Vancouver Police Department says more than three dozen officers, including the emergency response team and crisis negotiators, responded to reports of shots being fired inside a building near Main and Alexander streets just after 7 p.m.
“A man in his fifties began firing rounds,” the VPD said in a statement Monday morning. “A person who was with the man when he began firing quickly fled and called 911, reporting that the shooter had been acting strangely for several days.”
Authorities say the building was partially evacuated while officers communicated with the suspect. About 90 minutes after the first shot was fired, police say a man exited the apartment armed with a loaded gun and a knife.
“Less lethal ARWEN rounds were deployed so officers could safely arrest the suspect, who was not seriously injured,” the statement from police continues.
ARWEN is an acronym for anti-riot weapon Enfield and can involve launching foam, wooden or chemical bullets.
The man has not been identified and details of the criminal charges he is facing were not provided.
NEIGHBOURS SHAKEN
Residents of the building took to social media to swap stories and piece together the details of what happened.
In response to a question on an online forum about the evacuation of Ask For Luigi, a restaurant at the intersection of Alexander and Gore streets, people who live in “The Edge” residential building across the street chimed in to help piece together what happened.
“Here is my personal account: I was sitting on the couch and a SWAT guy just bursts into my apartment, doesn’t even knock or anything,” wrote Reddit user F102t2o around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. “He goes ‘I don’t care what you have in here I need to look out your window.”
Another resident says they came home to the building with their girlfriend to find it was locked down and went to a nearby bar for a drink before returning and speaking with a Vancouver police officer.
“He told us a man on the second floor started shooting his gun off the balcony towards CRAB Park. He thought someone was trying to attack him. They had a stand-off and shot the man in the leg and took him to the hospital,” the resident wrote.
“It was unfortunately a mental health situation that went very wrong,” said a different resident, Reddit user fancy 7474. “I do not believe his intent was to cause harm to anyone and especially not anyone living in the building.”
The Edge is a 10-storey building with 165 units. Recent online rental listings suggest a one-bedroom goes for nearly $2,500 per month.
CTV News has reached out to the Reddit users, Ask for Luigi for comment. This story will be updated if a response is received.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.