Multiple people in hospital, suspect shot after machete attack on Vancouver's Granville Street
Five people, including a suspect, were taken to hospital with serious injuries after a violent incident that drew a massive police presence to downtown Vancouver's main entertainment district Saturday night.
The incident began before 10 p.m., according to a statement from the Vancouver Police Department.
The VPD said its officers were called to the scene by Vancouver Fire Rescue Services around that time after a man set fire to his suite in a rooming house near the intersection of Granville and Smithe streets.
"The man subsequently attacked and stabbed four people inside the building," police said in their statement.
"When officers arrived, they were confronted by the suspect who was still armed with the weapon."
Police described the man's weapon as a "machete," and said on Twitter around 1:30 a.m. Sunday that police had shot the suspect.
Canadian-based musician Ashley Pater – who was performing at the Roxy Cabaret, one of several clubs and live music venues in the area – told CTV News the business had initially been evacuated due to a fire concern.
“Midway through my set, my manager smelled something he thought may have been gas,” Pater said. “He reported it, and next thing next we knew authorities were called and alarms were going off.”
Pater said once she got outside, the situation quickly escalated.
“Next thing I knew, we saw someone lying on the ground and they were surrounded by firemen,” she said. “We heard some word that there were gunshots and something like that all out on the street, then everyone was ushered down the sidewalk towards Smithe Street.”
In a Facebook post, the Roxy Cabaret said it would be closing early "due to an incident that occurred at a neighbouring business," and clarified that none of its staff or patrons had been involved in the violence.
The suspect was arrested and taken to hospital for treatment of serious, non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
They added that the four victims of the machete attack were also taken to hospital with "serious, life-altering injuries."
The VPD's Major Crimes Section is leading the investigation.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. – which is called whenever an incident involving police officers in the province results in death or serious injury to a member of the public – confirmed to CTV News that it had also been called to investigate.
"What it'll come down to is us trying to determine at the time the police engaged with the individual what level of threat did he pose and was the threat or was the action or force used by police appropriate in response,” the IIO's Chief Civilian Director, Ron MacDonald told CTV News.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.