Man killed by police after 1 stabbed, another injured in downtown Vancouver
Man shot near Robson and Hamilton streets, Vancouver police say
Vancouver police shot and killed a man in downtown Vancouver on Wednesday after he stabbed one person and injured another, a VPD spokesperson told reporters at an afternoon news conference.
Police said just after 11:30 a.m., they responded to a call from staff at a restaurant near Robson and Hamilton streets. The caller reported a man had stolen alcohol and was armed with a knife inside the restaurant.
Witnesses told The Canadian Press he used the weapon to stab people across the street at a 7-Eleven store close to the Vancouver Central Public Library.
Onlookers told CBC News shots were fired near the 7-Eleven.
Const. Tania Visintin said police shot a suspect who stabbed one person in the hand while another person suffered facial injuries. Visintin said police and first responders administered first aid before the man was taken to hospital, where he died.
Visintin said the victims' injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
In a statement, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO), the civilian-led agency responsible for police oversight in B.C, said it is investigating and asking any witnesses to contact the agency at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on its website.
'A terrible scene': witness
Kylie Noel, who was working at the Original Joe's restaurant at Robson and Hamilton streets on Wednesday, told The Canadian Press a man came into the restaurant and stood by its door, opened a laptop computer and "demanded a glass of water."
Noel said she refused and went back to tell kitchen staff that the man was refusing to leave.
She said he had left by the time other workers came out, but Noel then saw him outside with a bottle of alcohol she believed was stolen from the restaurant, which she later confirmed by watching security camera footage.
When Noel returned to the restaurant's main floor, the man was again behind the bar, and Noel ran back down to tell her colleagues in the kitchen.
"One of the kitchen guys came out, asked if he could help him, and the guy grabbed the knife and asked him if he wanted to die," Noel said
Her co-worker then told her to call police. She said she ran into a neighbouring hotel lobby and stayed on the phone with police as she described the man.
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Mainul Islam, a part-time delivery worker who was outside the 7-Eleven, said he was picking up a food order when he saw a man trying to steal cigarettes from behind the counter. He said staff were trying to stop the man.
"And he just brought out his knife from his pocket, and he tried to stab … the guy, but he ran away, and then he went to stab that lady. Maybe he already stabbed that lady in the back, I saw blood."
He said the police were there within minutes and "just shot this guy."
"It's a terrible scene," he added.
Video captured by Islam, a student and part-time food delivery worker, shows police officers pointing their weapons over the counter of the 7-Eleven.
In Islam's video of the shooting, a stun gun held by an officer appears to have already been fired, with the wires trailing over the counter inside the convenience store.
"Move over, right now. Move over," one officer shouts at the unseen suspect before gunfire is heard.
Islam estimates that police shot the man 10 times.
After the shooting, a man can be heard saying, "Are you OK ma'am?" while a woman sobs.
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A 7-Eleven spokesperson said in an email that they are gathering information and working closely with police to assist their investigation.
"We are saddened by the reports of the incident today," the spokesperson said.
Terry Yung, B.C.'s minister of state for community safety and integrated services, said he hopes the victims will have a speedy recovery.
"It's a very concerning incident, especially for those involved," he said.
He said further details about the incident would come from Vancouver police.
"Everyone should feel safe in their neighbourhood."
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With files from Katie DeRosa and Canadian Press