Police in Saanich, British Columbia, say they are continuing to investigate the possibility that a “third suspect” was involved in a fatal shooting at a bank in which two suspects were killed and six police officers were injured on Tuesday.
However, police emphasized that they did not believe there was an additional risk to the public and that investigators would continue to provide threat assessments when available.
As of Wednesday afternoon, three of the injured police officers have been released from hospital, while three others continue to receive care.
Saanich police chief Dean Duty says three police officers who are still in hospital received “life-threatening” injuries on Tuesday, and one officer remains in the intensive care unit.
Dutty says explosive devices found in a car linked to the suspects at the scene were also destroyed.
Officers from the BC RCMP’s provincial explosives disposal unit (EDU) brought the explosives to the Hartland landfill in Saanich and “destroyed them safely,” according to the police chief.
Some residents and businesses near the site of the shooting were evacuated on Tuesday after the explosives were discovered.
As of Wednesday, those homes and businesses remained blocked by police as investigators combed through the scene.
“Today I visited the hospitals and met with the police officers who are there and their families,” Duty said. “They wanted me to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the public for their continued support. That means a lot to them. “
The police chief said he was touched by the courage of the officers, who belonged to both Saanic’s and Victoria’s police departments.
“They ran for live and active shooting, while the human instinct is to escape from such imminent danger,” he said.
Dutty also thanked other rescuers who were at the scene and staff at two local hospitals who provided emergency assistance to the injured staff.
RCMP ACCEPTANCE
The RCMP’s Integrated Major Crimes Unit on Vancouver Island (VIIMCU) has taken over the investigation.
RCMP spokesman Chris Manso said police treated the incident as an assassination attempt.
He stressed that the investigation is at an “extremely early stage” and that investigators are still focusing on gathering physical and digital evidence.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the VIIMCU Advice Line at 250-380-6211.
Manso added that it could take time for employees to respond to potential advice due to the amount of evidence presented.
This is an evolving story. Check again for updates.
An earlier version of the story is below:
Police in Saanich, British Columbia, are maintaining an evacuated area near a bank as they continue to investigate a possible explosive device linked to a deadly shootout with two suspected bank robbers.
Both suspects were shot and killed as police responded to the robbery and six police officers were injured.
Chief const. Dean Dutty says two police officers were seriously injured and underwent surgery late Tuesday.
A third police officer also remains in hospital.
CTV News Vancouver Island will broadcast a live update from the police on this page at 3:30 p.m.
Dutty says Greater Victoria’s emergency team was not far from the Bank of Montreal when the call for an armed robbery was received and was on time to confront the suspects.
Videos on social media show that dozens of shots were fired and police have set up an online site to collect videos taken by witnesses.
The Office of Independent Investigation, which investigates all cases of injuries or deaths to police in British Columbia, has also sent a team to the scene and asked anyone with information to speak to its members.
Federal Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino noted the “huge sacrifice” made by officials during the bank robbery, saying his thoughts were with the community and officers.
Mendicino spoke in Toronto, where he announced funding for combating gun and gang violence.
He said he had approached BC Deputy Prime Minister Mike Farnworth and offered his support.
“This is another reminder that gun violence affects our communities every day.
The district mayors of Eskimalt, Saanic and Victoria expressed their support for the “courage and selfless service” of those officers who fled to danger.
“To the wounded officers and their families, our thoughts are with you and we send love as you go through the next days, weeks and months of recovery,” Mayors Barb Desjardins, Fred Haynes and Lisa Help said in a statement.
“We are humbled by your service and express our heartfelt gratitude for your courage as you stood in danger to protect our communities.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 29, 2022.
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