RCMP say a Gibsons, B.C., man is in serious but stable condition after being shot twice by a Mountie.
Sgt. Peter Thiessen of the Lower Mainland District Police Service said two officers were speaking to the 34-year-old man about uttering threats on a social networking site when he came at them with a claw hammer.
"On the basis of the suspect's actions one of the officers discharged his sidearm, striking the suspect twice," Thiessen said of the incident that occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Friday.
Police had been talking to the man at a home in the presence of his father for about 20 minutes when he advanced on them with the claw hammer, Thiessen said in a statement Saturday.
The investigation about the alleged threats got underway after a request by the Langley RCMP detachment, he said.
The man, whose name hasn't been released, was transported to a local hospital before being airlifted to a Lower Mainland hospital where he underwent surgery.
"We recognize that this is a major event for the community of Gibsons and we would like to reassure the community that this is an isolated incident," Thiessen said.
He said the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP has been advised.
