IIO investigating fatal police shooting in Port Hardy

The Independent Investigations Office is headed to the scene of a fatal police shooting on Vancouver Island.

Port Hardy RCMP said officers were called out to a report of a man making threats towards security staff at a firefighting staging area at the local secondary school about 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Reports indicated that the suspect was brandishing a knife, the RCMP said in a news release.

Officers found the alleged suspect near the intersection of Granville Street and the Island Highway.

A confrontation occurred, and shots were fired by police and the suspect was killed, the police release said.

IIO official Kellie Kilpatrick also issued a release about the new investigation by the agency.

She said the IIO team director, a forensic specialist, manager for services for affected persons and several other investigative staff will arrive in the area early this evening.

“The RCMP have secured the scene as well as physical evidence and will hold it until IIO personnel arrive. Preliminary tasks will include seizing any physical evidence, designating and interviewing officers as well as taking statements from civilian witnesses,” Kilpatrick said.

No police officers or other members of the public were injured during this incident.

Anyone with information, or who many have witnessed the incident, is asked to contact the IIO witness line at 1-855-446-8477.

It’s the second case in a week for the IIO.

Last Friday, the IIO was called to the Sicamous and Salmon Arm area after an armed robbery suspect was shot by police.

Police were called to a gas station in Sicamous after an armed robbery. The suspect fled in a vehicle which was located a short time later just outside of Salmon Arm.

The suspect sustained serious gunshot injuries. An officer was also injured during the confrontation.

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