Police shot a man during a standoff in a downtown Vancouver 7-Eleven following a violent stabbing spree.
The “violent incident” that left two wounded took place near Library Square at Robson and Hamilton streets on Wednesday, according to Vancouver Police Service.
“Vancouver Police responded at 11:34 a.m. to a 911 call from staff at a restaurant near Robson and Hamilton Street. The caller reported a man had stolen alcohol and was armed with a knife inside the restaurant,” reads the Vancouver police statement.
“Officers responded immediately, and located the armed suspect inside a nearby 7-Eleven convenience store. The suspect was shot by police and taken into custody.”
Police officers and other first responders then administered first aid to the suspect, who died shortly after being taken to the hospital.
The two who were injured were also hospitalized with conditions believed to be non-life-threatening.
Police can be seen yelling at the “move over” at the assailant as several officers aim their firearms at him in video footage that has circulated.
A video of the exchange was captured by student Mainul Islam, who said he was stopped by police from entering the store before witnessing the shooting unfold. Islam said he believed the man to be “homeless.”
No further details have been released as to the motive behind the stabbings.
A nearby salon was placed under lockdown while the incident unfolded with no one permitted to enter or exit the building.
According to the Vancouver Sun, a person at the salon observed a woman who appeared injured in front of the building, followed by the sound of gunshots before seeing who they believed to be the suspect lying on the ground.
The Independent Investigations Office has been notified of the incident.
The stabbings occurred only blocks from where a similar incident took place in September where two men were brutally stabbed, one fatally.
Another stabbing took place in Newton on Wednesday, leading to the arrest of a Surrey man.
Surrey Police Service said they responded to a call around 10 a.m. from a man who told them he had been stabbed several times in the arm following an incident near 73rd Ave. and 130th Street.
While waiting for an ambulance, officers on scene provided the victim with first aid medical attention.
Another set of officers searched the area with a canine unit and found a male suspect who was subsequently arrested.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have dashboard or surveillance footage of the area is asked to contact police at 604-599-0502.
