Vancouver police say “a number of people” were stabbed and officers shot a suspect in a violent incident in downtown Vancouver on Wednesday.
There was a massive police presence at the intersection of Robson and Hamilton streets, with a 7/11 convenience store behind a police cordon.
Witness video recorded by international student and food delivery worker Mainul Islam captured a portion of the incident.
In the video at least three police officers can be seen inside the store, pointing their weapons at someone who is not visible on the other side of the cashier’s counter. One officer is reloading a Taser with its cables already deployed, while at least one other officer is holding what appears to be his service weapon.
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The camera pans away as an officer can be heard yelling “move over” twice before there is a loud noise and a scream, followed by what sounds like 11 gunshots.
Islam said he was just arriving at the convenience store to pick up an order when the attack happened.
He said the suspect was trying to steal something from the store when an employee tried to intervene.
“And he just got up his knife and was trying to stab them,” he said, describing a weapon about as long as his forearm.
“After that, (the employee) said you can take whatever it is you want, but he didn’t listen. Maybe he got angry.”
Islam said the man then stabbed a woman inside the store.
Police arrived moments later, he said.
“And all of a sudden everything happened. Police came and police shot this guy. Police tried to, like, shock him first, but he was resisting. So they shot him.”
Police said on social media that “a number of people” had been stabbed. Officers shot the suspect, police said.
It was unclear how seriously any of the victims or the suspect had been injured.
Other witness video showed first responders performing chest compressions on a person being wheeled to an ambulance on a stretcher.
B.C.’s civilian police watchdog the Independent Investigations Office has been deployed to the scene, but has yet to release any additional information.
More to come…