Witnesses Say North Vancouver RCMP Shot Suspect at Westview Plaza
A man was shot by North Vancouver RCMP officers following a violent confrontation at Westview Shopping Centre on Tuesday, July 21.
The incident began at approximately 1:30 p.m. and reportedly involved an attempted robbery, multiple carjacking attempts and a confrontation with police.
Suspect Allegedly Attempted McDonald’s Robbery
According to a witness, the man entered the shopping centre’s McDonald’s and allegedly attempted to rob the restaurant while carrying a large box-cutter-style knife.
He then reportedly ran into the parking lot and tried to steal a vehicle. The vehicle was quickly crashed into another car.
Bahman Afshari, owner of the Freshslice Pizza location at Westview, said the suspect later attempted to carjack someone parked near the Esso gas station but was unsuccessful.
Man Reportedly Tried to Cover Himself in Gasoline
Afshari said the man attempted to pour gasoline over himself using a pump at the Esso station. However, the pump was not operating at the time.
The witness believed the suspect appeared intoxicated and said he was holding a beer during the incident.
Police Used Multiple Less-Lethal Measures
According to Afshari, officers initially attempted to stop the man using a Taser on two occasions. Police also reportedly fired a rubber bullet before the situation escalated further.
Another witness said several officers arrived and surrounded a black Chevrolet Malibu with their weapons drawn.
The suspect reportedly exited from the passenger side and ran toward an RCMP vehicle, where another physical struggle occurred.
Officers Reportedly Fired Several Shots
The second witness said the man rushed toward a police cruiser and attempted to enter it. Officers then appeared to fire approximately three or four shots.
One person was transported from the scene by ambulance. Although a witness believed the man may have died, authorities had not officially confirmed his condition in the information available.
Shopping Centre Access Restricted
North Vancouver RCMP closed public access to Westview Shopping Centre following the shooting. The Esso gas station and nearby 7-Eleven convenience store were also placed behind police tape.
Police asked members of the public to stay away from the area until further notice.
Independent Investigations Office Takes Over Case
British Columbia’s Independent Investigations Office has been assigned to investigate the incident.
The civilian police watchdog examines cases involving police officers when a member of the public may have suffered serious injuries or died during an interaction with law enforcement.
The Westview Shopping Centre incident reportedly began with an attempted robbery and escalated through several vehicle theft attempts before ending in a police shooting. The area remained closed while investigators examined the actions of the suspect and responding RCMP officers.
