The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating the death of a man who was involved in a shooting incident Saturday night in Chilliwack, and the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO BC) is looking into how police actions contributed to his death.
RCMP were called out shortly before 5:30 p.m. to the 46000 block of Christina Drive, responding to a call about an emotionally distraught man in possession of firearms. When police arrived, the man allegedly fired shots at the officers. No one was hit and the officers retreated, taking steps to contain the residence and evacuate homes in the area.
The Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team and an RCMP crisis negotiator were called in to help.
A helicopter was seen circling the area for several hours.
The man emerged from his home later, and this time police fired shots. He went back inside. RCMP used a robot to search the home and the man was found unresponsive. Emergency medical crews couldn鈥檛 revive him.
There were reports, unconfirmed by police, of between six to 12 shots fired in the incident.
The IIO is the civilian-led oversight body responsible for conducting investigations into serious incidents that may have resulted from the actions of police officers.
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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