Police shoot, kill man accused of deadly attack on partner in Surrey

Two people are dead after an alleged fatal assault at a Surrey home led to police shooting and killing the accused on Monday night.

1130 NewsRadio has learned that the police-involved shooting was in response to a fatal incident of alleged intimate partner violence.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, the BC RCMP confirmed that around 8:30 p.m., officers received reports of an assault in progress at a home along 66A Avenue near 194 Street.

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“Police officers from the Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (SPOSU) attended and entered the home where they encountered a man with a weapon,” BC RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark said.

“An interaction occurred, and shots were fired by police. BC Emergency Health Services (EHS) personnel were staged nearby and were immediately called in to provide medical care; however, the individual has died,” Clark added.

Clark explains that after the shooting, “while police were attending to the man, other officers located a woman deceased inside the residence.”

“The IIO BC was notified and is attending the scene to investigate police actions in this incident. The area has been cordoned off in order to support the investigation,” Clark stated.

In a further statement released on Tuesday afternoon, the Lower Mainland’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) shares that while the investigation is in its “early stages, investigators believe this was an isolated incident involving the deceased woman and the alleged suspect who was shot by police. There are no outstanding suspects and no ongoing risk to the public.”

“The deceased woman and man were a couple in their 60s who lived together at the residence. Initial evidence indicates police were responding to a physical assault in progress stemming from intimate-partner violence,” IHIT stated.

“This was not the outcome that anyone had hoped for,” said IHIT Sgt. Freda Fong. “We extend our thoughts to the family members of the deceased, first responders, and witnesses who have been impacted by this incident.”

Sources previously told 1130 NewsRadio the officer involved fired at a man who was attacking his partner, a woman. He reportedly charged at officers with a weapon, allegedly a machete.

A Surrey Police Services statement says the investigation now rests with the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) and the BC RCMP. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is also investigating.

Images from the scene show police having taped off the area, including a laneway.

A nearby resident, Cindy Hunter, says she didn’t think anything of the initial gunshot sounds.

“It sounded like fireworks going off. That was it,” said Hunter. “To me. It was just like, ‘Someone lit up a firework.’ And that was it.”

When police remained in the area for several hours into the morning, she says she began to question her own safety.

“But no one said to go inside or anything.”

Neighbour Rhoda Hilcott says she heard what she thought were clashes coming from someone’s garage.

“And then I just came out because I had heard the sirens. It seemed close, and lo and behold, the whole street was full of police vehicles, emergency vehicles. And I really didn’t know much about it until this morning, because it was all sort of hush-hush,” said Hilcott.

Another neighbour, Jason Miller, describes watching police swarm the area and break down a door.

“I would say I saw a couple with guns and one with the battering ram. And then there might have been ones coming through the alley as well in the backyard,” said Miller.

Hilcott says the nature of the incident is shocking.

“I thought it was gang violence right away,” she said.

“This is a neighborhood full of families and kids, and we’re a pretty tight community.”

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