Police shooting of suspect in Gastown triggers watchdog investigation

Photo: Brendan Kergin / Vancouver is Awesome.

Police responded to a call around 10 p.m. on Nov. 28 for a man with a weapon. The incident ended after the man was shot by police.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIOBC) has been called in after a man was shot by police in Vancouver's Gastown neighbourhood on Monday (Nov. 280.

The incident occurred around 10 p.m. when police were called to reports of a man with a weapon in the 300-block of Cambie Street.

"When [police] arrived on scene, the man was still in possession of that weapon and during the interaction, he was shot by officers," a spokesperson for the Metro Vancouver Transit Police tells Vancouver Is Awesome.

In a release they note the 38-year-old was shot by transit police and multiple shots were fired.

In their own release, the IIOBC note the incident was attended by both transit police and officers with the Vancouver Police Department (VPD). V.I.A has reached out to the VPD for more details on their involvement in the situation.

"Emergency Health Services attended, and the man was transported to a local hospital for treatment of gunshot-related injuries," states the IIOBC.

The current status of the man has not been released, though the IIOBC note he was seriously injured at the time of the shooting. The transit police say he remains in custody while in the hospital.

No officers were injured in the incident.

The IIOBC is looking for witnesses to the incident. Anyone who saw the incident is asked to contact the IIOBC via phone at 1-855-446-8477 or via the IIOBC website.