IIO calls for witnesses to Canadian Tire shooting
People who recorded the police-involved incident on a mobile device are of particular interest
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) is looking for key witnesses to a fatal officer-involved shooting that happened outside the Canadian Tire store near the Grandview Highway and Rupert Street in Vancouver last Thursday, Nov. 10, around 3 p.m. PT.
"The real focus for our investigation at this moment in time is to trace and identify a number of key and significant witnesses who we know were at the scene of the incident," said IIO chief of investigations John Larkin.
Investigators have made a number of inquiries and have obtained substantial statements from some of the witnesses but, Larkin said, CCTV footage collected by the agency shows many people recording the incident on their mobile devices.
The busy retail area had a large number of people watching the incident, going to and from the store and driving around the Canadian Tire parking lot.
"There are a number of people who were watching the incident as it unfolded," said Larkin while pointing to CCTV screen shots.
Needs to collect independently
"As the IIO is an independent agency of the police, we do need to independently acquire the original witness statements and any video footage of the interaction," said IIO director of public engagement Marten Youssef.
"If this information or footage has been provided to the police, it needs to be provided to the Independent Investigations Office. Regardless of the fact, if you're a witness and you've spoken to the police, you need to reach out to the IIO."
IIO investigation teams are at the Canadian Store today and will be there again on Thursday, said Youssef.
Any potential witnesses are asked to call the IIO at 1-855-446-8477.
Autopsy
An autopsy is scheduled for today for 38-year-old Daniel Peter Rintoul, the man shot and killed by a Vancouver police officer, said Youssef.
Rintoul, originally from Alberta, is known to police and had been living in Vancouver for a couple of years.
Last Thursday, officers responded to a call of an alleged robbery in progress at the Canadian Tire and confronted a man dressed in camouflage who had allegedly broken a display cabinet and stolen guns.
During the incident, a store clerk was stabbed and an 82-year-old customer was taken hostage before police shot and killed a suspect outside the store's main door.
