A carjacking incident turned violent early Sunday morning, culminating in a police-involved shooting that left the suspect injured and under custody.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) responded to a 911 call just after 4 a.m. from a security guard who reported being threatened at knifepoint and with a broken glass bottle. The assailant stole the guard’s vehicle near Prior and Milross Avenue.
The suspect fled the scene in the stolen BMW, prompting an immediate city-wide search by VPD officers. The stolen car was located approximately 25 minutes later near Slocan Street and East 23rd Avenue. Officers confronted the suspect, deemed armed and dangerous, as they attempted to take him into custody.
During the arrest, shots were fired, leaving the suspect with injuries described as non-life-threatening. The suspect suffered gunshot wounds to the arm and received first aid from officers at the scene before being transported to the hospital. He remains under police guard and faces multiple charges, including robbery, weapons offenses, and driving violations.
In daylight, the evidence of the confrontation was stark: shattered glass from the passenger-side window and blood-stained tissues near the vehicle.
Under Section 25 of the Criminal Code of Canada, police are authorized to use reasonable and necessary force during their duties. However, incidents involving serious injuries trigger an investigation by the province’s civilian oversight authority, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO).
The IIO has been notified and is currently assessing the incident. While investigators work to confirm the suspect’s identity, they are also determining whether the injuries meet the threshold of “serious harm,” which would formalize the watchdog’s ongoing investigation.
VPD officials emphasized that no officers were injured during the confrontation. They defended their response as a necessary measure, citing the immediate threat posed by an armed suspect driving a stolen vehicle.
The suspect is expected to face charges of robbery, possession of weapons, and driving offenses. The Crown will review the case once police recommend charges.