East Vancouver police shooting, Langley crash trigger IIO investigations
Man with knife shot outside McDonald's on East Hastings
Within the space of three hours on Monday evening, B.C.'s newly created independent police watchdog netted two new cases, both in Metro Vancouver.
The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) says 10 members are now probing a fatal shooting near a McDonald's restaurant at the intersection of Hastings and Cassiar streets in northeast Vancouver.
Police say the officer was first called to investigate reports of windows being smashed on the 400 block of Skeena Street at about 8:15 p.m. PT Monday.
"When the first officer arrived he was confronted by a man who was holding a knife. The man was subsequently shot by police. The man was taken to hospital by paramedics where he died," said a statement released by VPD Sgt. Randy Fincham.
The IIO says a knife was recovered at the scene and 18 witnesses have been interviewed.
The incident interrupted eastbound trolley bus traffic on Hasting Street until about 10 a.m. PT Tuesday morning, said TransLink.
Man killed in Langley crash
Just hours earlier, IIO members were called when Langley RCMP officers tried to stop a speeding vehicle in that suburb, but it raced away and collided with another car moments later, killing the second driver.
The driver of the suspect vehicle is under arrest and the Independent Investigations Office says more details about the Langley crash and the Vancouver shooting will be released later on Tuesday.
Since the office opened its doors in early September, independent civilian investigators have responded to eight cases around British Columbia in which RCMP or municipal police have been involved in incidents involving death or serious injury.