Suspect in Downtown Vancouver Stabbing Dies After Police Shooting
Police shot and killed a stabbing suspect in a Vancouver convenience store Wednesday morning, according to authorities.
The cops were responding to a 911 call reporting that a knife-wielding guy had taken booze from a restaurant near Robson and Hamilton streets at 11:30 a.m., according to a Vancouver Police Department update released hours later.
Police discovered a suspect inside a neighboring 7-Eleven.
"The suspect was then shot by officers. VPD officers and other first responders attempted lifesaving procedures on the subject. However, he was carried to the hospital, where he later died," spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin said at a news conference, adding that a further two persons "have been injured."
The Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia has been contacted, as it is in all police-involved situations resulting in death or serious injury, regardless of whether there are allegations of wrongdoing.
A few minutes after noon, the VPD posted on social media that they were on the scene of a "violent incident" in which "several people have been stabbed."
Visintin stated that police initially assumed two persons had been stabbed, but have now discovered that there was only one stabbing victim. Authorities are still investigating how the second person was harmed, she said.
"It is crucial to emphasize that our officers responded shortly after receiving the report, and we were able to stop the threat to the public. It's terrible that two individuals were hurt and that a man was shot by officers, but due to our prompt response, we were able to stop that threat," she stated.
Visintin also declined to comment on whether the perpetrator was known to the police and whether the victims worked for 7-Eleven or the restaurant.
Witness describes shooting
Mainul Ismal, a delivery driver who was picking up an order in the vicinity, saw what he characterized as a "really terrible" situation inside the 7-Eleven. He says it started with a man approaching the counter, removing his shirt to reveal a big knife tucked in his waistband.
Ismal believes the suspect attempted to commit theft. Although two employees lifted their hands in the air, urging the man to take whatever he wanted, Ismal said the suspect "got angry" and "got out his knife and tried to stab them."
The witness stated he didn't know how many individuals were stabbed, but there looked to be one or two victims.
Ismal also shared a video with CTV News that showed three officers around the store's counter, two with pistols drawn and one with what seems to be a Taser.
"Move over right now, move over," an officer commands. Nobody is visible behind the counter.
The video does not show what happened next, but you can hear a woman crying as four shots ring out in short succession. After a brief break, six more gunfire can be heard.
A woman can be heard crying as someone asks, "Are you OK, ma'am?"