The Abbotsford Police department is mourning the loss of one of their own today, after an officer was fatally shot Monday morning.
According to Abbotsford Police Chief Bob Rich, the incident began at 11:35 am, when police received a call about a possibly stolen vehicle in the parking lot of a shopping complex in the 3200 block of Mt. Lehman Road.
Speaking to media outside the Abbotsford Police detachment, Rich said the caller was so sure the vehicle was stolen, he blocked the suspect’s vehicle in while waiting for the police to arrive.
Rich said it was then that a man emerged from the vehicle and “began shooting at the caller – and others – with a shotgun.”
Police received several 911 calls about the shooting itself which Rich said happened at about 11:52 am.
APD officers arrived in the area and attempted to “engage and arrest” the suspect and there “was an exchange of gunfire,” said Rich.
It was at this point the APD officer was shot by the suspect. He was taken to hospital with “very serious” injuries.
The suspect then fled the area in the stolen vehicle, but was arrested in the intersection of Mt. Lehman Road and Fraser Highway.
The suspect, a man in his 60s from Alberta, was then taken to hospital with injuries that are believed to be non-threatening.
Abbotsford Police officer “is a hero”
The injured APD officer was pronounced dead at the hospital, shortly after he arrived.
Rich said he met with the victim’s spouse to deliver the news and “it is something I never wanted to have to do in my life.”
Rich said the actions of all the officers involved in the incident were “absolutely heroic.”
He added that officers responded to the incident in a way that was “designed to protect the public.”
The officer who gave his life, said Rich, “is a hero. He was protecting his community. He will always be my hero.”
IHIT and IIO are both now involved and the investigation continues.
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