Carjacking suspect shot dead by police at ferry terminal
NANAIMO One man is dead after a police-involved shooting at the Departure Bay ferry terminal Tuesday.
The RCMP said in a release that officers were attempting to arrest a suspect in connection with a violent carjacking elsewhere in the province.
Nanaimo RCMP and the Island District Emergency Response Team stopped a vehicle as it left the ferry and initiated a “takedown” of the suspect.
“Initial information based on police accounts is that the male exited the vehicle with what police believed was a firearm and shots were fired resulting in the male sustaining serious injuries,” the RCMP said.
The man, who has not been identified, died of his injuries.
Police said no officers or members of the public were injured during the incident.
They said the Independent Investigations Office, which probes police-involved deaths, will take control of the investigation “to see if there is any link between police actions and the male’s injuries.”
The IIO confirmed that three of its investigators were dispatched to the scene with more to follow.
Ron MacDonald, chief civilian director of the IIO, said it was his understanding that B.C. Ferries staff had arranged things in such a way that the suspect’s vehicle was one of the last ones to leave the ferry.
“But in terms of the details of the exact interaction between the police and the individual and how many shots were fired and that type of thing, we don’t have those details at this point.”
MacDonald said investigators will be trying to interview as many witnesses as possible. Any potential witnesses are asked to call the IIO at 1-855-446-8477.
“We will be attempting to gather, in addition to the forensic evidence from the scene, any video evidence that may be present,” he said.
Police tape surrounded the exit lanes of the ferry terminal on Tuesday afternoon.
A grey hatchback, facing the wrong way in the lanes, was surrounded on three sides by a white cube van, two black vans and a black pickup truck.
Yellow evidence markers were placed along the lanes and a blue tarp was hung up on the fence opposite the vehicles.
The RCMP said it will release no further information and asked witnesses to contact the Independent Investigations Office.
Jon Athey, 70, said he was in the short-term parking lot at the terminal when heard a loud bang.
He looked over and saw what he believes was a police vehicle hit a grey car in the lanes exiting the ferry. The car spun around and was hit by a second police vehicle, he said. Athey said he then saw what he believed were police officers firing multiple shots.
“It happened so fast,” he said. Frank Leonard, chairman of the Agricultural Land Commission, was waiting to board the 10:40 a.m. sailing when he heard what sounded like a truck backfiring and then six to eight gunshots.
The incident happened at about 10:15 a.m. in the lanes exiting the ferry, Leonard said.
A B.C. Ferries announcement asked people to remain in their cars. Leonard admits he did get out of his car and walked back to see what was going on. His view was blocked by a fence, but he saw police vehicles and men in plainclothes jogging over to the area.