Carjacker shot at ferry

Photo: CTV/Chopper 9

Witnesses heard shots fired at Nanaimo's Departure Bay ferry terminal Tuesday.

UPDATE: 7:18 p.m.

A carjacking in Penticton Monday led to a man being shot to death in Nanaimo Tuesday.

RCMP have confirmed the car jacking incident took place Monday May 7 in Penticton and the driver in that incident sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries.  

“That incident remains under active investigation, but we are not in a position to release additional details at this time. We are also mindful that this original incident is connected to the Nanaimo matter,” said Dawn Roberts, Director in charge of BC RCMP Communications.

UPDATE: 1:35 p.m.

The Independent Investigations Office is looking into today's police-involved shooting in Nanaimo.

The IIO says the Island District Emergency Response Team was assisting Nanaimo RCMP with an arrest at the Departure Bay ferry terminal in relation to a violent carjacking.

The vehicle was stopped by police as it disembarked from the ferry.  

Initial police accounts are that the victim exited the vehicle with what police believed was a firearm. Shots were fired, and the man later succumbed to his injuries.

The scene has been secured while the IIO deploys to the area. 

UPDATE: 12:45 p.m.

A person has been killed in a police-involved shooting at Nanaimo's Departure Bay ferry terminal Tuesday morning.

The BC Coroner's Service told CTV Vancouver Island that it was investigating the incident, indicating a fatality  had occurred.

Ed Pearce, a former West Vancouver police officer, saw the incident occur. He said motorists waiting for the ferry were told to get inside their vehicles before the ferry had even docked.

After it had docked, he then heard a loud bang and saw what appeared to be an Emergency Response Team vehicle ramming a car.

"I could see him pushing this car and I thought what the hell? What happened?" Pearce told CTV.

He says he heard a loud explosion that sounded like a flash or stun grenade, followed by five to eight gunshots.

"At first I thought it was an accident and as soon as I saw the ERT vehicle I thought…this is some high-risk takedown," he said.

"As an ex-policeman I thought the operation looked really quick and safe ... I was not concerned where I was and I thought it was very shielded."

He said one person was taken away on a stretcher.

– with files from CTV Vancouver Island

UPDATE: 12 p.m.

The Independent Investigations Office is en route to Nanaimo's Departure Bay ferry terminal after police were believed to be involved in a shooting there. 

The independent agency investigates all incidents that have involved police where serious harm or death occurred. 

Sailings from the Departure Bay terminal were delayed due to the reported shooting.

The RCMP have yet to comment on the incident. 

– with files from The Canadian Press

ORIGINAL: 11:10 a.m.

Police were reportedly involved in a shooting at Nanaimo's Departure Bay ferry terminal Tuesday morning.

Former Saanich mayor Frank Leonard told CTV he was waiting at the terminal to board the 10:40 a.m. ferry to Horseshoe Bay when he heard ferry attendants yelling.

Leonard says the attendants were yelling at a departing motorcyclist to return to the ferry when he heard what sounded like a car backfiring, followed by a series of gunshot-like sounds.

Leonard says plainclothes police, who were apparently waiting for somebody, ran towards the ferry.

At least a dozen police vehicles, along with two ambulances, were at the scene.

Police have not yet commented on the incident, while BC Ferries have only said a “police matter” is unfolding.

– with files from CTV Vancouver Island