A man is dead after being shot during an attempted arrest at NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Departure Bay ferry terminal this morning.
Chief Supt. Sean Sullivan, RCMP Island District commander, said the Island District Emergency Response Team and Nanaimo RCMP were at the location in relation to a B次元官网网址渧iolent car-jacking incidentB次元官网网址� elsewhere in B.C.
B次元官网网址淭he vehicle was stopped by police and a takedown was initiated,B次元官网网址� said Sullivan. B次元官网网址淚t resulted in what police believed was an individual with a firearm and shots were fired, resulting in the serious injuries to the suspect which later resulted in his death.
No one else was injured in the incident.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has about 10 people looking into the incident right now, said Ron MacDonald, the IIOB次元官网网址檚 chief civilian director.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l be looking into all the circumstances surrounding the interaction that led to the shots being fired,B次元官网网址� he said at a press conference in Surrey this afternoon. B次元官网网址淲e will assess what the police were doing, what the individual was doing.B次元官网网址�
He said the IIO is engaged in a forensics investigation and will speak with witnesses, look for possible video evidence and review radio traffic.
MacDonald said the IIO hasnB次元官网网址檛 yet determined if there was an exchange of gunfire.
B次元官网网址淭he RCMP reported that members saw what they believed to be a weapon as he exited the vehicle. That obviously is a very important part of our investigation as well.B次元官网网址�
He added that leading up to the takedown attempt, there was communication with ferry staff to ensure that the suspect vehicle was among the last to disembark the vessel.
A witness told the B次元官网网址 Bulletin he heard gunfire and saw a cluster of police vehicles at the terminal as the Queen of Cowichan was unloading in advance of a scheduled 10:40 a.m. sailing.
Frank Leonard, chairman of the B.C. Agricultural Land Commission, said he was travelling from Campbell River to Richmond on business when the incident happened a little after 10:15 a.m.
B次元官网网址淚 heard a boom like a backfire of a truck and a couple of seconds [later] I heard bang, bang, bang, that sounded like gunfire,B次元官网网址� he said.
He saw a cluster of police vehicles and saw B.C. Ambulance Service arrive on scene.
B次元官网网址淎n announcement came on to get in your car because thereB次元官网网址檇 been a police incident,B次元官网网址� Leonard said, adding that passengers were calm and the scene was very quiet.
About 20 minutes later, disembarking resumed via the departures lanes, and the Queen of Cowichan sailed less than half an hour behind schedule.
Andy Watson, B.C. Coroners Service spokesman, would not confirm details about fatalities or injuries other than to say the Coroners Service had been called to investigate.
B次元官网网址淵es, we have been called. We are early in our investigation,B次元官网网址� Watson said, deferring further comment to the IIO.
RCMP forensic team arriving on scene alleged police shooting BC Ferries Departure Bay Terminal.
B次元官网网址� Nanaimo Bulletin (@NanaimoBulletin)
Nearby resident said he heard shots fired.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. confirmed via social media that B次元官网网址渋nvestigators are being deployed to Nanaimo for a police-related incident.B次元官网网址�
Sgt. Jon Stuart, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said all comment about the incident would come from RCMPB次元官网网址檚 E Division headquarters on the Lower Mainland.
B次元官网网址淭he IIO will be attending later, so at this point weB次元官网网址檙e not going to be releasing any further information about what happened,B次元官网网址� he said.
Stuart would not confirm any details about injuries or fatalities or even if police were involved in the shooting.
Deborah Marshall, B.C. Ferries spokeswoman, confirmed there was a police incident and ferry traffic will be affected.
B次元官网网址淲e are continuing to operate in and out of our Departure Bay terminal,B次元官网网址� Marshall told the B次元官网网址 Bulletin. B次元官网网址淭he ships will be running a bit behind schedule though because weB次元官网网址檙e using the vehicle booths to discharge traffic. Right now the exit lanes are closed, so itB次元官网网址檚 a bit of a re-route for our customers and that should carry on for at least a couple of hours probably.B次元官网网址�
RCMP forensic team arriving on scene alleged police shooting BC Ferries Departure Bay Terminal.
B次元官网网址� Nanaimo Bulletin (@NanaimoBulletin)
Nearby resident said he heard shots fired.
Nanaimo RCMP investigating scene of alleged police shooting at BC Ferries Departure Bay Terminal.
B次元官网网址� Nanaimo Bulletin (@NanaimoBulletin)
Pic may give you a sense of how far away from vehicles and passengers waiting to board ferry at Departure Bay the police incident was; if planned, police had a narrow stretch of road away from all with a limited number of B次元官网网址榦thersB次元官网网址� nearby
B次元官网网址� Frank Leonard (@frank_leonard)
Former Saanich mayor says there appears to have been a police shooting at the Departure Bay ferry terminal in Nanaimo. We are chasing details .
B次元官网网址� Black Press BC (@BlackPressMedia)
