Downtown Vancouver stabbing suspect dead after being shot by police
A stabbing suspect is dead after being shot by police in a Vancouver convenience store Wednesday morning, according to authorities.
The officers were responding to a 911 call reporting a knife-wielding man had stolen alcohol from a restaurant near Robson and Hamilton streets around 11:30 a.m., the Vancouver Police Department said in an update hours after the incident.
Police found a suspect inside a nearby 7-Eleven.
"The suspect was then shot by police. VPD officers, along with other first responders, attempted life-saving (measures) on the suspect. However, he was taken to hospital, where he later died," spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin said at a news conference, adding that an additional two people “have been wounded.”
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has been called in, as it is in all police-involved incidents that result in death or serious injury, whether or not there are allegations of wrongdoing.
The VPD first informed the public that they were on the scene of a "violent incident" in a social media post a few minutes after noon, saying "a number of people have been stabbed."
Visintin said police initially believed two people had been stabbed but have since learned that there was only one stabbing victim. Authorities are still trying to determine how the other person was hurt, she said.
Asked if the second person was potentially injured by police gunfire, Visintin could not confirm one way or the other, but noted that the IIO will be investigating the officers’ actions.
"All I know right now is we have two people that are injured," she said.
Both of the victims’ injuries were described by police as non-life-threatening. Asked for further details, Visintin said the stabbing victim sustained hand injuries and the other person sustained facial injuries.
"There's still a lot that it's unfolding. There's still a lot of pieces that we're putting together. So, I'm here to provide the best, most accurate information that we have right now," she added.
“It's important to note that our officers arrived immediately once we got the call, and we were able to stop the threat to the public. It's unfortunate that two people were injured and that a man was shot by officers, but because our immediate response, we were able to stop that threat,” she continued
Visintin also did not comment on whether the suspect was known to police, and could not confirm if the victims were employees of either the 7-Eleven or the restaurant.
Witness describes shooting
Mainul Ismal, a delivery driver who was picking up an order in the area, witnessed what he described as the "really terrible" incident that unfolded inside the 7-Eleven. He says it began with a man approaching the counter, lifting his shirt and showing a large knife tucked in his waistband.
Ismal says it appeared to him that the suspect was trying to commit a theft. Although two employees raised their hands in the air, telling the man to take whatever he wanted, Ismal says the suspect "got angry" and "got out his knife and tried to stab them."
The witness said he was unsure how many people were stabbed, but that there appeared to be either one or two victims.
Ismal also shared video with CTV News, showing three officers – two with guns drawn and one who appears to be wielding a Taser – surrounding the counter of the store.
"Move over right now, move over," an officer shouts. No one is visible behind the counter.
The video does not capture what happened next, but a woman can be heard screaming as four shots ring out in quick succession. After a brief pause, another six shots can be heard.
A woman can then be heard crying, as someone asks, "Are you OK, ma'am?"
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Shameful': Monument honouring fallen soldiers included names of living veterans
Veterans are asking for answers after discovering that two sculptures in Ontario honouring fallen soldiers include the names of many people who are very much alive.
'If it ain't broke don't fix it': U.S. ambassador warns Canada against cutting Mexico out of trilateral trade deal
Cutting Mexico out of the current North American free trade deal 'may not be the best path to take,' says U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen.
Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward
The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer likely left New York City on a bus soon after the brazen ambush that has shaken corporate America, police officials said. But he left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park.
Canada's air force took video of object shot down over Yukon, updated image released
The Canadian military has released more details and an updated image of the unidentified object shot down over Canada's Yukon territory in February 2023.
Cookie inflation: How much more is your holiday baking costing you this year?
Estimate how much more your Christmas cookies will cost to bake this year compared to the past five years using Statistics Canada's monthly average retail price data.
LGBTQ2S+ refugees languish as Kenyan government blocks Canadians from resettling them
In a low-income neighbourhood on the outskirts of Nairobi, seven people gather in an air-conditioned home around a dinner table for a Ugandan stew of matoke bananas with peanut sauce.
An explosion has caused several injuries and damaged apartments in a Dutch city
An explosion and fire rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague early Saturday, destroying several apartments and injuring multiple people, according to authorities.
Smash and grab: Canada sees a spike in jewelry store robberies
Many cities across Canada are seeing a spike in jewelry store robberies in recent months.
Invasive species could be hiding in your Christmas decor. Here's how to stop the spread
Make sure to look through your holiday decorations, as Christmas trees, wreaths, and other natural decor can have invasive insects, eggs, and plants that pose a threat to local ecosystems and the economy.