Six police officers are in hospital with gunshot wounds and two suspects have died after a shooting at a bank in Saanich, BC, on Tuesday.
As of Tuesday afternoon, police continue to urge people in the North Dairy Road area on Cedar Hill Cross Road, and between Richmond Road and Cedar Hill Road, to take refuge in their place while heavily armed officers search for a possible third suspect.
Several Saanich police officers, VicPD and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) responded to the report of armed suspects at a bank at 3600 block of Shelbourne Street around 11am PDT.
When officers arrived, the two armed suspects began firing at police, according to a joint statement from the Saanich and Victoria police departments.
“Two suspects were shot by police and died at the scene,” police said.
According to police, no members of the public, including bank employees or customers, are believed to have been injured in the incident.
“RUNNING FOR MY LIFE”
Witness Brenda Boyd told CTV News she was walking near the intersection of Shelbourne and Pear streets when she heard at least 25 to 50 shots and saw smoke outside the Bank of Montreal around 11:30 p.m. in the morning.
“But I wasn’t counting. I was just going, running to save my life,” he said.
A police officer, who was hiding behind some bushes, called him to leave the area immediately, he said.
The witness said he saw at least three people being taken by stretcher to ambulances waiting for him.
Saanich police have confirmed that several people were injured in the incident. (CTV News)
BC emergency medical services say paramedics were called to the shooting at 11:21 a.m.
Seven ambulances rushed to the scene and took five patients to the hospital. Doctors remained in the “waiting” area after 2 p.m.
Another witness to the shooting said he was at a nearby bike shop when he saw “two police officers shot” and saw another person lying on the ground in a nearby parking lot.
“It was terrible,” Fabien Cousineau said. “They were dragging cops behind a police van.”
All traffic was still being diverted from the area to allow police vehicles and medical personnel to access the scene on Tuesday afternoon.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., Saanich police said they were evacuating homes and businesses near the scene “due to the presence of a possible explosive device.”
Saanich police have confirmed that several people were injured in the incident. (CTV News)
“IT WAS A QUICK SHOT”
Cleo Gagner and her 15-year-old son were buying cat food at a veterinary clinic near Bank of Montreal on Shelbourne Street when she said they heard what looked like two shots.
“Boom, bum,” he told CTV News minutes after the incident. “And then it was a quick shot. Multiple shots from multiple shooters.”
He estimated that they heard between 40 and 50 shots in quick succession.
“Then a Saanich police officer started driving towards the BMO with the door open,” he said. “He got out of his vehicle, pulled out his gun … and then the shots increased and he withdrew.”
The woman said she and her son ran back to the vet’s office and took refuge until things calmed down.
Saanich police off the Bank of Montreal on Shelbourne Street on June 28, 2022. (John B. Flood / Twitter)
A BMO spokesman says the company is “deeply saddened” by the incident.
“The safety and security of our customers and employees is our priority and our thoughts are with all the people affected by today’s events,” said spokesman Jeff Roman.
“We thank the emergency services for their prompt assistance and for helping maintain public safety.”
The testimony video obtained by CTV News shows a group of police officers piling up behind a nearby restaurant before charging down the street with a hail of audible shots.
Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes, in a brief statement on his Twitter account on Tuesday, said: “Our hearts are with our officers, bank staff and residents … there are no words to describe how that’s horrible. “
This is a developing story. Check for updates again.