One man dead after VPD-involved shooting near Commercial Drive
Posted April 28, 2022 12:43 am.
Last Updated April 28, 2022 6:39 pm.
One person has died after a police-involved shooting in the area of Vancouver’s Commercial Drive Wednesday.
Vancouver police say officers were called to an apartment building in the area of Commercial Drive and East 5th Avenue just after 8:30 p.m. for reports of an assault.
“When VPD patrol officers arrived on scene, an altercation ensued and therefore that resulted in an exchange of gunfire,” explained Cst. Tania Visintin with the VPD.
A 40-year-old man died as a result of the gunfire. One officer was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was not shot but was hurt in the “course of the situation.”
Visintin could not say if the man was known to police, only noting that he lived in the building along 5th Avenue where officers were initially called to.
“This was a very active situation. There was an exchange of gunfire so we did have officers evacuate that building for safety,” she said, adding no other injuries were reported.
People living in the neighbourhood reported over a dozen officers locking down the area Wednesday night.
“We watched the street fill with flashing lights and heard the pop, pop, pop of gunshots. We closed our blinds and locked our doors and worried for those who were on the street,” one local told CityNews. “We didn’t sleep well at all worried that someone was hurt or that someone was going to try to escape and find their way to our deck or door.”
Just got an update from #VPD.
*They say this is entirely an @iiobc investigation
*The assault that prompted the initial police presence was in an apt. suite
*Police not saying how many shots were fired
*A VPD member sustained minor injuries, now resting at home https://t.co/af3vW0KekN
— Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) April 28, 2022
Meanwhile, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) has been called in. The IIO is called in whenever police action leads to injury or death.
The VPD would not provide any further details about the initial call, saying that is part of the IIO’s investigation. Vancouver police were also not able to provide details about how many shots were fired.
Commercial Drive has since reopened between 3rd and 6th avenues.
-With files from Sonia Aslam
