CUSTOMERS AND STAFF AT A ROYAL BANK BRANCH IN A TORONTO SUBURB WERE LEFT ‘DEFINITELY TRAUMATIZED’ WEDNESDAY WHEN A 25-YEAR-OLD MAN ARMED WITH A GUN TOOK SOME HOSTAGES, AND WAS SHOT DEAD SOON AFTERWARD BY POLICE.
•Adramatic hostage situation at a bank north of Toronto ended abruptly on Wednesday when police killed the lone gunman.
No one else was injured but those inside the Royal Bank of Canada branch in Maple, Ont., were “definitely traumatized,” said York Regional Police Const. Andy Pattenden.
“We did have to use lethal force in order to gain control of that subject,” he said.
Police raced to the scene after a call at about 1 p.m. and found a gunman as well as a number of other people inside, both staff and clients.
“Officers arriving on the scene were able to get some of those inside out to safety,” Pattenden said. “It did turn into a hostage situation for us.”
The bank is in a plaza that also includes a child-care centre, dental office, drugstore and other outlets. Police said many people were in the plaza at the time, and some reported being told to take cover as the drama unfolded. A negotiating team was brought in, to no avail.
Daycare owner Ellana Katzberg told CTV News that she used her phone to send an alert out to parents when police evacuated the plaza.
Officers helped daycare staff carry dozens of children between the ages of 10 months and four years to the safety of a nearby transit bus.
Pattenden said he had no details as to how many people had been held hostage at the bank or whether the gunman had made any specific demands.
“I can’t even tell you it was a robbery,” Pattenden said. “(But) being in the bank with a gun was very threatening.”
At least a half-dozen people who were in the bank at the time of the incident were taken to an ambulance bus, many with white blankets wrapped around their shoulders.
In a statement, RBC said it was “extremely relieved” customers and employees were safe.
“Out of respect for our clients and employees who were involved in this incident, and the ongoing investigation, we will not be commenting further,” the bank said.
Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, is reviewing how officers handled the incident.
SIU spokesman Jason Gennaro told reporters on Wednesday evening that two police officers used their firearms during the interaction with the gunman.
He said he could not identify those involved, but said the 25-year-old gunman was pronounced dead on scene.
“The SIU’s investigation is going to be focused on the interaction between the police officers and the individual,” Gennaro said. “Of course as a part of that investigation, we’re going to look at to determine what happened in the lead-up to that event.”