A man who allegedly entered a police vehicle following a stolen car chase was shot and killed in B.C.’s Interior on Sunday night.
On Tuesday, Revelstoke RCMP said the incident started with a stolen car report at 11 p.m., with the vehicle owner contacting police around 45 minutes later that it had been located, though it fled away.
“Officers were able to locate the vehicle and during attempts to stop it, there was contact between the stolen vehicle and a police vehicle,” said Revelstoke RCMP.
“The man exited the vehicle and after a brief foot chase reportedly entered the police vehicle.”
The RCMP said an officer discharged a firearm, striking the man.
“Emergency Health Services attended and transported the man to hospital. He was later pronounced deceased,” said police.
The province’s police watchdog, the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO), has been notified.
“As the matter is now under investigation by the IIO BC, no further information will be released by police,” said the RCMP.
The IIO investigates all incidents involving serious harm or death in interactions with police.
On Tuesday afternoon, the IIO said it was investigating the incident along Victoria Road East.
“Information provided by the RCMP states that around 11:48 p.m., police responded to a call involving a stolen vehicle,” said the IIO.
“Officers then encountered the affected person in a vehicle, there was an interaction, and shots were fired by police. Emergency Health Services (EHS) attended but the (person) was later pronounced deceased.”
The IIO said was notified around 12:10 a.m. on August 28, and that it has commenced an investigation.
“Initial investigative steps will seek to confirm the details of what occurred leading up to and during the interaction with police, and what role the officer’s actions or inaction may have played in the person’s death,” said the IIO.