Fatal Saanich Shooting: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Task Force

Police Officers found a possible explosive device in a vehicle. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit has been called in from Vancouver.

The scene of the shooting in Saanich, Vancouver Island, remained closed to vehicles and passers-by overnight Tuesday through Wednesday, according to Saanich police. “The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit is still on scene. Residences and businesses are still being evacuated,” the police force tweeted at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

At a press briefing at 4 p.m. Saanich Police Chief Dean Duthie confirmed that a possible explosive device found in a car was the cause of the evacuation. An anti-explosive team has been called in from Vancouver to defuse it or detonate it safely.

Police have closed an area between North Dairy Road to the south, Cedar Hill Cross Road to the north, Richmond Road to the east and Ceder Hill Road to the west.

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It was a call received around 11:00 a.m. Tuesday reporting the presence of two armed individuals wearing body armor at a BMO branch at 3616 Shelbourne Street that led to the deployment of the police.

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A passerby captured some images of the police intervention during the robbery that took place on June 28 in Saanich, Vancouver Island.< /p>

There was an exchange of gunfire. Several people were injured. Please continue to avoid the area, Saanich Police said in a tweet posted at 12:06 p.m.

The response resulted in the deaths of the two suspects. Six police officers were injured and, as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, three of them were still in the operating room.

At approximately 1:34 p.m., the police evacuated the residences and neighborhood businesses due to the discovery of a possible explosive device in a vehicle.

At 3:45 p.m., a shelter-in-place order was issued for the area as officers suspected the presence of a third suspect.

Police responded in large numbers after gunmen were reported at a bank in Victoria.

Police then asked witnesses to their intervention not to give evidence. #x27;information on their movements and their activities in social networks.

We searched the area and found nothing to indicate the presence of a third suspect. The area remains closed as we continue to deal with the possible explosive device, Saanich police said in a tweet posted at around 6 p.m. announcing the lifting of the sheltering order. on site.

In a YouTube video posted by SteezieBrosHD around 12:30 p.m., a group of police officers in protective gear, armed and accompanied by a dog, attack along a sidewalk in front of a business. A few seconds later, we can hear gunshots that follow one another for long seconds.

Police rush to their intervention.

Cleo Gagner was a few steps from the bank in the company of his son. Forty or fifty shots. The sounds were different, some clearly coming from a semi-automatic rifle, she said.

“It was terrifying. I have never heard so many gunshots.

— Cleo Gagner, witness to the shooting

The video ends after 46 seconds when the person filming the police hides behind the back of the seat of his vehicle to protect themselves from gunfire. The video was put on sale by its author and was later deleted from the YouTube account.

Saanich Police are asking anyone who has images or videos of the incident to upload them to an evidence collection site(in English) open for investigation.< /p>

On the other hand, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of British Columbia has opened an investigation, as required by its mandate, when people are injured or killed during of a police intervention.

Saanich Police Chief Dean Duthie confirmed in a press briefing Tuesday afternoon that the two suspects were killed by officers.

Both suspects were killed by officers, and six officers were injured in the response, Saanich Police Chief Dean Duthie said in his 4 p.m. briefing.

Three of the injured officers are from Saanich law enforcement, and the other three are from Victoria. Three of the injured officers were in the operating theater at the time of the press briefing. All are members of the Regional Victoria Response Tactical Group (GVERT).

At this time we do not believe that bank employees, bank customers or bystanders suffered physical injuries, Dean Duthie said, adding that the shooters were heavily armed.

“It's a very difficult day. It is an event that shakes up a community. »

— Saanich Police Chief Dean Duthie

In 27 years of service, Dean Duthie has never seen such a situation. He says he has received phone calls of support from other BC police chiefs.

B.C. Premier John Horgan had scheduled a press briefing for 1:30 p.m. to announce he will step down in the fall. He offered his thoughts to the families of those affected by the violence in his community on Vancouver Island. His riding is adjacent to where the shooting took place.

In the evening Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth released the following statement on behalf of provincial government: Every day and at the risk of their lives, the police protect our communities. [Events] today are a reminder of the critical role of police officers in keeping our communities safe. My government and I greatly appreciate their courage, professionalism and commitment.

The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, posted a message on Twitter: Like many people in across the country, I am shocked and saddened by the violence in Saanich, British Columbia. My thoughts are with the officers who were injured in today's shooting and their colleagues who faced danger to protect people.