GoFundMe for Vancouver Island officers hurt in Saanich shooting raises thousands

Support continues to pour in for the six officers hurt in a bank shooting on Vancouver Island Tuesday, with monetary donations also flooding in.

A GoFundMe campaign launched has amassed more than $110,000 in just two days, surpassing its initial goal of $100,000.

“Many expenses are expected to arise over the coming months and potentially long-term,” the campaign, set up by the Saanich Police Association and Victoria City Police Union, reads in part.

“The money raised will allow us to provide continued support to our members in a variety of ways including but not limited to accommodation and transportation for families of those who are in hospital, psychological support, modifications to homes to allow for future transition from hospital and much more.”

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The officers were hurt when gunfire was exchanged with two suspects at a Bank of Montreal Tuesday morning, during an attempted robbery. The two suspects, who have since been identified as twin brothers from Duncan, were killed in the shootout.

Meanwhile, three Victoria Police officers and three Saanich Police officers were hurt, some requiring surgery and facing life-altering injuries as a result of the shooting. All six were members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team.

“Our hope is that none of our members need to worry about any financial burden during this time and can focus on healing and being together with their loved ones,” the GoFundMe page adds.

Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes has commended the officers who stepped in during the situation, saying he was “awestruck.”

“When you look at the video of officers running into the line of fire to save the residents of Saanich that they swore an oath to, what a call of duty,” Haynes previously told CityNews.

‘Pure sense of disbelief’

However, the incident has also left many people in shock.

“It’s a pure sense of disbelief. I mean, who robs a bank on the peninsula of a fingertip of an island? It’s a befuddlement on what was going on,” the mayor added.

Police have said the suspects were heavily armed, though it’s still unclear how they were able to get their hands on the firearms.

Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie were not previously known to police.

“We’re still looking into the suspects’ backgrounds and can confirm that neither had criminal records,” Island District RCMP Cpl. Alex Bérubé said Saturday.

“We understand that there’s a lot of questions that may still be outstanding. With the release of the names, we answered the who, but we’re still trying to understand exactly what took place and why.”

Anyone with information about the suspects or a Toyota Camry that has been linked to them is asked to contact the Vancouver Island Major Crime Unit at 250.380.6211.