What the death of the 7-Eleven stabbing suspect in Vancouver means for the investigation

British Columbia's Independent Investigations Office has taken over the investigation of a violent confrontation that saw Vancouver police shoot and kill a suspect inside a 7-Eleven Wednesday after he allegedly stole liquor and attacked and injured two people.

The IIO — a civilian body responsible for police oversight — said Thursday it will not be releasing the name of the dead suspect, frustrating the search for details about an alarming incident that occurred in the heart of the city's downtown within days of one of the year's biggest events.

Since the suspect is dead, no charges will be laid, and no criminal proceeding will take place, according to Vancouver police, who, for privacy reasons, don't name people unless they're charged with a crime.

"Our investigation into the initial offence will be limited," said Vancouver police spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison in an interview with CBC News.

Addison said that the circumstances surrounding the police shooting and the suspect being killed are the responsibility of the IIO.

"However, our Major Crime Section is still involved in collecting evidence related to that initial 911 call and the reasons why police were called to deal with the imminent public safety threat."

The attacks

Police said just after 11:30 a.m. PT Wednesday, they responded to a call from staff at a restaurant near Robson and Hamilton streets. The caller reported a man had stolen alcohol and was armed with a knife inside the restaurant.

The man then entered the 7-Eleven and tried to steal cigarettes from behind the counter. One witness said staff attempted to stop the man, who then pulled out a large knife.

One person was stabbed in the hand, while another suffered facial injuries, according to police.

Officers confronted the suspect over the 7-Eleven counter. In videos reviewed by CBC News, police appear to fire nine shots.

Police said the victims are expected to survive. 

'The concerns that people have are real'

The 7-Eleven where the attack occurred was closed Thursday, with a sign posted on the door advising customers.

The store sits on the edge of the trendy neighbourhood of Yaletown, a few blocks from the entrance to B.C. Place, where a statue of Terry Fox sits near the metre-high, lit-up block letters "RED" — a temporary nod to Taylor Swift's fourth studio album.

On the eve of the American superstar's three-night, sold-out concert run, the sidewalk was starting to fill with some of the thousands of fans expected to descend on Vancouver in the coming days.

Addison said 700 officers will be deployed throughout the weekend.

"We're there to provide a sense of comfort and safety to people," he said. "We're there to deter crime."

But he acknowledged the very real fears driven by apparently random attacks.

"They cause people to feel a decreased sense of safety," Addison said.

"So the concerns that people have are real. The feelings that they have are real. We're working as a police agency to address those concerns."

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim told CBC the incident was "devastating."

"There's a lot of anger actually," he said.

"We can talk about how crime's down, violence, assaults are down, but when these things happen, they're jarring and they really impact the entire community."

WATCH | Vancouver mayor frustrated by violent attacks: 

Mayor Ken Sim says he is feeling devastated and angry.

1 month ago

Duration 2:18

Mayor Ken Sim says he is feeling devastated and angry after a violent incident in downtown Vancouver on Wednesday in which a man who stabbed one person and injured another was shot to death by police. Sim is calling on the province and the federal government to step in and help.

2 investigations

There are two investigations happening around this incident: a Vancouver police probe into the suspect's alleged attacks on two people and an investigation into the officers' actions by B.C.'s police watchdog.

"Initial investigative steps will seek to confirm what happened leading up to and during the incident and what role, if any, police actions or inaction may have played in the man's death," the Independent Investigations Office said in a statement.

The office said that it would avoid releasing any information that might "prejudice" their work or public perception of what took place.

The IIO said it would be interviewing witnesses as part of its investigation and that those interviews would be separate from any interviews performed by police. 

Addison said the police force trusts the IIO's work will shed more light on what happened Wednesday.

"We need to respect that process, give them their jurisdiction to do their important work," Addison said.

PHOTOS | Vancouver police respond to stranger attack: