British Columbia·Video

Police chase and gunfire follow alleged robbery at car dealership in Coquitlam, B.C.

Mounties in Coquitlam, B.C., are still searching for two suspects after an alleged armed robbery at a car dealership turned into a police chase with an exchange of gunfire during Tuesday's busy afternoon commute.

2 suspects arrested but Mounties still searching for 2 more after Tuesday afternoon 'crime spree'

A tow truck and a police vehicle can be seen at one of multiple crime scenes after a robbery and police chase in Coquitlam, B.C., on Nov. 22, 2022.
A tow truck and a police vehicle can be seen at one of multiple crime scenes after a robbery and police chase in Coquitlam, B.C., on Nov. 22, 2022. (Joel Law/CBC)

UPDATE, Nov. 23, 2022: Mounties confirm 'multiple victims' injured in armed robbery at Coquitlam car dealership


Mounties in Coquitlam, B.C., are still searching for two suspects after an alleged armed robbery at a car dealership turned into a police chase with an exchange of gunfire during Tuesday's busy afternoon commute.

An RCMP news release described the day's events as a "crime spree" that required the help of police from Burnaby, Surrey, New Westminster, Vancouver and Maple Ridge, as well as the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team.

It all began shortly after 3:40 p.m. PT, when four armed suspects were reported to have stolen a vehicle from a dealership near Lougheed Highway and Dominion Avenue in Port Coquitlam.

Police say the suspects fled in the stolen vehicle before exchanging gunshots with officers responding to the call. One suspect was arrested after the car crashed on Highway 1 near the King Edward overpass.

WATCH: Video captures gunshots amid heavy police presence:

Shots ring out during Coquitlam police chase

2 years ago
Duration 1:15
Police say 'crime spree' ensued after four suspects stole vehicle from dealership

A second suspect then carjacked another vehicle and drove to Surrey, where they were arrested, according to police. Two more suspects have yet to be located.

No officers were shot during the encounter. The two arrested suspects were also uninjured by the gunfire, but the condition of the outstanding suspects is unknown.

Randy Kang told CBC he was leaving work at a car dealership on Lougheed Highway when he saw police lights and heard people yelling, before seeing officers running after someone.

He says he saw a number of shots being fired and captured the incident on video.

"Pretty intense — definitely caught me by surprise," Kang said.

Police are asking anyone with footage of the incident or who may have witnessed what happened to call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bethany Lindsay

Journalist

Bethany Lindsay is a former journalist for CBC News who reported extensively on the courts, regulated professionals and pseudolegal claims.

With files from Ali Pitargue