A man has died following a police-involved shooting at the Departure Bay ferry terminal in Nanaimo Tuesday morning.
Nanaimo RCMP, along with the Island District Emergency Response Team, were attempting to arrest a man at the terminal in relation to a violent carjacking from another area of the province.
The RCMP said the carjacking originated in Penticton on Monday night.
WATCH: Police shooting kills one at Nanaimo ferry terminal
Police said the vehicle was stopped as the man disembarked from the ferry.
Initial information based on police accounts is that a man exited the vehicle with what police believed was a firearm, and shots were fired resulting in the man sustaining serious injuries. He later succumbed to his injuries.
Witnesses report hearing multiple shots fired and passengers were ordered to remain in their vehicles for their safety.
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One of them was former Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard, who was standing next to his car when he heard the gunfire.
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“I thought I heard six to eight gunshots, that’s what I thought I heard. When I wandered back I saw a cluster of unmarked police vehicles with flashing lights.”
Neither the officers, nor any other members of the public were injured.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO BC) is investigating the incident.
“We’re not certain if there was an exchange of gunfire or not,” said Ron MacDonald, chief civilian director of the IIO.
“There was an interaction involving shots being fired, and this individual is now deceased.”
RCMP confirm to Global News that the car-jacking took place Monday night in Penticton, and that the driver in that attack suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries.
That incident remains under investigation.
As the matter is now under investigation by the IIO BC, no further information will be released by police. Anyone who witnessed this incident is asked to contact the IIO BC at 1-855-446-8477.
BC Ferries says as of 11:18 a.m. all sailings from Departure Bay are delayed until further notice.
However, sailings are still operating between Duke Point and Tsawwassen.
- With files from Emily Lazatin and Janet Brown
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