One man dead, four injured in Downtown Eastside church stabbing spree

Dec 19 2017, 10:45 pm

Vancouver Police have shot and killed a man after he engaged in a stabbing spree in the Downtown Eastside late this afternoon.

According to Vancouver Police, the incident began at approximately 5 p.m. when a man allegedly stabbed three people near the First United Church located at the corner of East Hastings and Gore streets. He then reportedly stabbed another individual in the same area.

A Vancouver Police officer within the area responded to the scene almost immediately. The officer witnessed the incident and confronted the suspect, who refused police orders to put down his weapon.

“Officers attempted to take the suspect into custody without success and police fired multiple less lethal rounds from a bean bag shotgun in an attempt to control him,” VPD stated in a release.

The suspect then turned to a woman standing nearby and began stabbing her. Police then shot the suspect, who was immediately treated by paramedics and pronounced dead at the scene.

The first two stabbing victims were treated in hospital with non life-threatening injuries but the female victim remains in critical condition with serious injuries.

As this incident involves a police-involved shooting, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) has been notified of the incident. A team from IIO has been deployed to the scene of the incident.

“IIO investigators will be conducting standard investigative activities including locating and interviewing any witnesses and securing video from the area. The IIO will work with VPD to ensure that all physical evidence is located and seized,” the organization said in a release.

While the IIO’s investigation will focus on the actions of the Vancouver Police officers on the scene, they will not be confirming the age, gender or names of the officers involved.

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

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