Canadian police fatally shoot suspect following stabbing that injured 2 people – UPI.com

Dec. 5 (UPI) — Canadian authorities have fatally shot a suspect after two people were wounded in a stabbing in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia.

Police responded at 11:34 a.m. PST Wednesday to a call about a man armed with a knife inside a restaurant near Robson and Hamilton Street in Library Square, Vancouver Police said in a statement.

The caller, a restaurant employee, said the man had stolen alcohol.

On arrival, police located the suspect inside a nearby 7-Eleven, where he was shot by officers.

Authorities said first responders administered aid on the suspect, who was taken to the hospital but later died.

“This has been a difficult day for many people — the victims, the community, and first responders,” Vancouver Police said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this senseless violence.”

Circumstances surrounding the shooting and how the two victims were injured remain unclear.

Unverified video of the shooting shared online shows a man behind the checkout counter at the 7-Eleven acting erratically. A second man, on the other side of the counter with his hands raised, repeatedly tells the first man to stop what he is doing and take whatever he wants.

Three police officers are then seen storming into the store. One of the officers is heard repeatedly shouting for the suspect, who is not visible, to put the knife down.

One officer then fires a taser before a second officer fires multiple rounds from their firearm. A woman is then seen running out from behind the counter.

A second video widely shared online shows the suspect being wheeled out of the convenience store on a gurney while a responder performs chest compressions.

Cnst. Tania Visintin told reporters in a Wednesday evening press conference that one victim had been stabbed. How the other victim was injured was not disclosed.

Both suffered what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries, she said, adding one person was stabbed in the hand and the other sustained injuries to their face.

“As you can imagine, this was a very dynamic incident that is still unfolding and there is an ongoing investigation that we are conducting,” she said. “All I can tell you is two people have been injured.”

Terry Yung, who represents Vancouver-Yaletown in British Columbia’s Legislative Assembly, described the incident as having been “disturbing.”

“Thank you to @VancouverPD and first responders for your fast action to get the situation under control and keep people in the area safe,” he said on X.