East Vancouver hostage situation ends with police shooting
An armed suspect was shot and killed after police responded to a violent home invasion on Commercial Street.
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Vancouver police fatally shot a suspect Monday evening after officers responded to a violent home invasion in the 3600 block of Commercial Street in East Vancouver.
Police arrived around 9 p.m. to reports of a home invasion in progress. Officers found a violent incident underway with the suspect having gained entry to a residence and holding a man hostage. After attempting to de-escalate the situation, officers were ultimately forced to shoot the suspect, who died at the scene.
The hostage suffered minor injuries and was treated at hospital but has since been released. No officers were injured during the incident.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has taken over the investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting. The IIO noted that officers also responded to reports of a male running through people's backyards, and the investigation will examine all available evidence to determine what occurred.
The agency stated that at the conclusion of its investigation, the chief civilian director will consider whether there are reasonable grounds to believe an offence may have occurred.
The case underscores the volatile situations police face when responding to home invasions and hostage incidents.