Two suspects were killed and six members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team were injured in a shootout at the Bank of Montreal on Shelbourne Street in Saanich on Tuesday morning. The incident, described as “chaotic, tragic and violent” by Saanich police chief Dean Duthie, began around 11 a.m. when police responded to a report that two heavily armed men had entered the bank in its 3600-block. Shelbourne Street, just south of Cedar Hill Cross Road. Several police officers from Saanich, Victoria and GVERT responded and met with two suspects who shot at the police. Police returned fire and the two suspects died on the spot. Three Saanich officers and three Victoria officers, all members of GVERT, were injured. Three police officers were expected to be released after treatment, Duthie said. The other three were much more seriously injured and taken to the operating room. “This is a very difficult day for us here at the Sanic Police Station, for the Victoria Police Department and for the entire Sanic community,” Duthy told a news conference late in the afternoon. “We keep their families informed and do everything we can to support them, as well as all our staff.” Acting Victorian Police Chief Colin Watson said police officers risked their lives and the department has been significantly affected. “There is a sense of sadness and frustration about what happened, but also a sense of determination to do the best job they can possibly under very difficult circumstances,” Watson said. “This is the kind of event we hope to never see. “But that is also why we provide training and prepare our officers for the worst day – and this is one of those days.” Both police chiefs stressed that police officers will continue to respond to calls for help. “All our sworn members, political members, volunteers feel what happened today and we are here for them and we will continue to be here for them throughout this period. Because it will not last a single day, two days, it will be long. “We will remain strong and be the police department they depend on on a daily basis,” Duthie said. “It’s amazing that no civilians were injured,” Duthie said. GVERT developed very close and their quick response was invaluable, he said. Police did not say why GVERT had already been deployed or whether they had received prior information about the bank robbery. Homes and businesses near the bank were evacuated when police discovered a “possible explosive device” in a white van believed to be driven by the suspects. The BC RCMP Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit was called to deal with the device. Police received “vague information” about a third suspect and searched the area with police dogs and a helicopter, but the housing order for nearby residents was lifted at 6pm, as police found no further evidence for another suspect. Police had no information about the men who were shot and killed, Duthie said. A dark-haired man wearing motorcycle boots, armor, hockey pants and a Canadian-flagged military jacket was seen standing motionless in the parking lot outside the bank. His body was surrounded by what appeared to be regular police equipment. Shortly after 12:30 p.m., about 25 people at the bank during the robbery were escorted by armed officers onto a waiting bus. Some were crying. Witnesses were taken to police stations for care and testimony. Dozens of police officers remained outside the bank on Tuesday afternoon, along with at least four ambulances. Shelbourne Street was blocked by Cedar Hill Cross Road after Pear Street, with marked and unmarked police vehicles filling the road. Police officers with weapons and groups of dogs were outside the bank. The public was asked to avoid the area. Charlotte Priest, an assistant at Lifeline Animal Clinic across the street from Shelbourne Street from the bank, said some of the clinic’s clients heard the gunshot and fled to the building. “It simply came to our notice then. So we just closed our blinds and just covered ourselves and stayed away from the windows. “ A passerby also found shelter in the waiting area, Priest said, noting that a police van was parked on the clinic street. “There are many businesses in the area. It ‘s shocking to be here. “Everyone is a little upset.” Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes tweeted: “Our hearts are with the officers, the banking staff and our residents. “No word can describe how horrible this is.” At the nearby University of St. Michael’s University, a woman said the school was in “hold and lock” mode, with all outside doors locked and everyone inside. The Megson FitzPatrick Insurance Services office on Shelbourne Street had about 20 people indoors behind locked exterior doors. Jacqueline Niemann, who ran the office on Tuesday, said she heard noises but did not immediately recognize the sound as a shot. Police cars that arrived at the scene alerted their office about the situation. Everyone is safe, he said. “It’s quite scary.” Hannah Young, a pharmacy assistant at Heart Pharmacy on Shelbourne Plaza across the street, said she heard “what must have been a shot”. “And he continued. “I looked outside and could see people jumping in their cars in the parking lot.” Young said she was not afraid but concerned about the safety of people in the area. “Do we need to close the door? Get customers in? SHUT DOWN? “It was more of a battle or flight response,” Yang said. “We saw that they were elderly people sitting outside and we told them they had to go inside.” They brought everyone in away from the windows in the back half of the pharmacy. Saanich police are asking people who took photos and videos to submit them as evidence to saanichpd.ca.evidence.com/axon/citizen/public/22-12262. Jeff Roman, a spokesman for BMO Bank, said in a statement that the company was “deeply saddened” by the incident. “The safety and security of our customers and employees is our priority and our thoughts are with every person affected by today’s events.” Roman thanked the emergency correspondents for their ambulance and public safety assistance. Saanich police are leading the investigation, with the help of the RCMP and an emergency team from the Lower Mainland, among others. An Island Health official said health care teams at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals had joined in to respond to the incident. The Jubilee Emergency Department was briefly under limited access to ensure safety, but none of the hospitals had an orange code indicating massive losses, the official said. “In situations like this, we quickly redeploy staff as needed and implement emergency plans to ensure our hospitals and staff are in the best position to respond,” said Island Health. As with all shootings involving officers in British Columbia, the Office of Independent Investigations is investigating. [email protected] [email protected]
