1 man dead after overnight standoff with RCMP in Chilliwack
Police were shot at by man at residence on Christina Drive who died following six hours of negotiations
A man is dead and B.C.'s police watchdog is investigating after a tense overnight standoff with RCMP brought a Chilliwack neighbourhood to a standstill.
RCMP were called at around 5:30 p.m. Saturday for a report of a distraught man with a firearm at a home in the 46000 block of Christina Drive, according to police.
When police officers arrived, the man shot at them, RCMP said.
The responding officers retreated while other officers arrived, including an emergency response team, a crisis negotiator and a police helicopter.
On Christina Drive in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chilliwack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chilliwack</a> right now. <a href="https://twitter.com/UFVRD_RCMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UFVRD_RCMP</a> ERT on scene. Reports of an active shooter. <a href="https://t.co/CEiO6zotq5">pic.twitter.com/CEiO6zotq5</a>
—@PeeJayAitchResidents were asked to stay inside their homes as the "very high risk situation" developed, RCMP Sgt. Krista Vrolyk said.
The RCMP said on Sunday that some homes close to the residence where the man was located were evacuated.
Police said during the six-hour standoff there was an interaction between the man and police where shots were fired by police as the man exited the home and then returned inside.
Later a robot was used to enter the home and search it. The device discovered the man unresponsive. Emergency medical crews worked to save his life, but he died at the scene, according to police.
Police said on Sunday that no one else was injured.
Police actions being investigated
B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office (IIO) is now involved in the case.
The IIO is an independent civilian oversight committee that investigates all police-related incidents resulting in harm or death.
Ron MacDonald, the chief civilian director of IIO, said investigators are working to confirm how many weapons the man had and the number of shots fired between him and police.
"We're not sure if he had one or more firearms, that of course is an important part of our investigation now," he said.
The IIO is also trying to determine if the fatal shot came from police or the man himself.
Reports of an active shooter on Christina Drive in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chilliwack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chilliwack</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCMP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCMP</a> helicopter on the air, a large area blocked off around the location. A witness tells me he heard 6 to 10 shots from two different guns <a href="https://t.co/WlnI1E0ofB">pic.twitter.com/WlnI1E0ofB</a>
—@PeeJayAitchOn Sunday morning, RCMP said the incident was over and it was safe for residents to leave their homes.
MacDonald said it's not clear if the man intended to be a threat to others in his neighbourhood.
"Anytime there is an individual who's taking shots from a residence, even if he's not intending to be a threat to those in the neighbourhood, that can unintentionally be the case," he said. "So it's typical that police will ask residents to stay in their homes for safety reasons."
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the IIO.
The IIO has deployed investigators to a police-involved shooting in Chilliwack. <a href="https://t.co/MhSPhuM5B2">https://t.co/MhSPhuM5B2</a>
—@iiobc