3 arrests made in Vancouver double homicide and abduction

Vancouver police have arrested three people in connection with a double homicide in East Vancouver and rescued a person who was kidnapped.

The three men, all in their 20s, were arrested Monday afternoon in a dramatic takedown on East Eighth Avenue near Blair Avenue in New Westminster.

Police say they are suspects in the deaths of Samantha Le, 29, and Xuan Vanvy Bacao, 24, who were found dead in their home on Dieppe Place near Dieppe Drive in East Vancouver, September 17.

Charges are being recommended but have not been laid. Police say the connection between the victims and suspect is not being revealed as the investigation is still ongoing. 

Acting VPD Sgt. Brian Montague said police became aware of the deaths after responding to a reported abduction. When they arrived at the home, they found the bodies of Le and Bacao, along with an unharmed four-year-old child.    

"This investigation went to a point very quickly where there were officers pulled in from all over the Vancouver Police Department," said Montague. 

Dramatic takedown in New West

While police searched in multiple jurisdictions, the investigation centred on New Westminster. 

"I can't underline how dangerous of a situation it was. We're dealing with armed people, who have potentially committed murders, who have a kidnapping in their vehicle, and we had to act very quickly," said Montague. 

At least eight VPD officers conducted a painstaking search of yards, flower beds and porches in the Blair Street neighbourhood of New Westminster, where the suspects were arrested after a dramatic chase Monday afternoon. 

​A woman who lives on the street but who did not want to be identified told CBC News she heard a loud series of bangs right before she saw a man taken into custody.

"When I finally got enough courage to come outside, I saw a police dog dragging a man down the little grassy hill. There were people running all over the place." 

"I heard afterwards the bangs were stun bombs but ... I don't know what those sound like, and I don't know what gunshots sound like, she said. 

• Double murder suspected in grisly East Vancouver discovery

Two innocent civilians injured

Two innocent bystanders were injured in the takedown when the car they were in crashed with the suspect's vehicle. One of the people in the bystander's car got out and was further injured by a police dog while running away.  

"This isn't a case where we're dealing with a couple of known suspects ... waiting for them to go to a place to make an arrest," said Montague. 

"We're dealing with multiple suspects, potentially multiple vehicles. We're dealing with a active kidnapping. Unfortunately, sometimes we can't wait." 

Police say the investigation is ongoing and ask anyone who may have information to contact the Vancouver Homicide Unit at 604-717-2500, or if they wish to stay anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.