A suspect is dead after being shot by police in a Vancouver convenience store after two people were injured in a stabbing Wednesday morning, according to authorities.
A 911 call came in around 11:30 a.m., reporting a knife-wielding man had stolen alcohol from a restaurant near Robson and Hamilton streets, the Vancouver Police Department said hours after the incident.
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Officers then found the suspect inside a nearby 7-Eleven.
“The suspect was shot by police and taken into custody. VPD officers and other first responders administered first aid to the suspect, who was taken to hospital and later died,” spokesperson Const. Tania Visintin said in a statement.
“Two people were injured and taken to hospital. Their injuries are not believed to be life threatening.” Visintin continued.
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. In its statement on the incident, the IIO said police arrived on the scene to find two people seriously injured “nearby” the restaurant.
The VPD initially put out a short statement on social media around noon, saying officers were on scene after a “violent incident” and that a “number of people were stabbed.”
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?”
This is a developing story and will be updated.