Man dead after shots fired between suspect and officers near Vancouver's Commercial Drive: police

UPDATE May 4, 2023: After an investigation, B.C.'s police watchdog has concluded there are nogrounds to criminally charge the Vancouver police officers involved in the man's death on April 27, 2023. A report from the Independent Investigations Office said officers' were justified in using deadlyforce because the man posed a "very significant threat, both to the officers and any uninvolved civilian unlucky enough to come within range of his firearm."

ORIGINAL STORY:

A man has died after shots were fired between a suspect and police officers in East Vancouver on Wednesday night, police say.

Officersresponded shortly after 8:30 p.m. PT to reports of an alleged assault in an apartment building near Commercial Drive and East 5th Avenue, according to a release issued by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) early Thursday.

When they arrived, "there was an interaction that resulted in an exchange of gunfire," the release said.

Police say the suspect, a man in his 40s who lived in the area, died.

The nearby stretch of Commercial Drive, which has many bars, restaurants and shops,was closed Wednesday night whilepolice swarmed the neighbourhood and witnesses reported hearing several shots ring out.

Robbie Unger, who lives in an apartment on East 5th Avenue, told CBC Newshe saw police standing outside his building Wednesday night with guns drawn, and then heard five shots.

"They were pointing, but you don't expect them to shoot," said Ungeron Thursday morning.

He saidafter he heard the shots, police entered the building and escorted him outside. He said he has yet to be allowed back in.

NikhileshNayar, who also lives on 5th Avenue, says he saw police in the hallway of his apartment building when he opened thefront door of his unit.

"Something in my body just told me maybe you should go outside and have a smoke and see what's going on," he said.

After he went outside, he saidhe heard gunshotsand saw flashes from the shots back inside the residence.

An ambulance was seen arriving at the scene just before 11 p.m.

One officer was hurt and taken to hospital but police saidhis injuries were not due to gunshot wounds and are not life threatening.

During a Thursday morning news conference, VPD spokesperson Const. Tania Visintinconfirmed officers evacuated units in thebuilding, but she didn't say how many and couldn't specify when the occupants could return home.

"This was a very active situation," said Visintin.

Visintin said the reported assault happened inside the apartment building and she could not confirm who initially called police. She said she did not know if a negotiator was on the scene with police before the shooting began.

British Columbia's Independent Investigations Office (IIO) the province's civilian-led police oversight agency confirmed withCBCNews on Thursday morning that it is investigating the shooting.

Evan Downing was walking home on Commercial Drive just after 10 p.m. PT when he heard about six gunshots, he said.

"My heart's still going," he said. "I come from a small town so nothing like this ever happens."

Rachel Stout was at the corner of 4th Avenue and Commercial Drive when she, too, heard gunshots.

"Alot of cops were on the scene right away," she said.

Visintindid not confirm how many shots were fired orhow many shots came from police weapons. She said the investigation is now solely in theIIO's hands and the VPD is no longer involved in the investigation.

Commercial Drive had reopened by Thursday morning, whileasection of East 5th Avenueremained taped off.