Two injured, suspect stabbed to death in downtown Vancouver
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Vancouver police say two people were injured and officers shot a suspect during a stabbing in downtown Vancouver Wednesday.
There was a heavy police presence at the intersection of Robson and Hamilton streets, with a 7-Eleven convenience store behind a police cordon. A video obtained by Global News shows a man behind the cash register holding what appears to be a knife and violently swinging an object at a staff member as the worker pleads with him to take what he wants.
A short time later, three police officers entered the store and yelled at the man to drop the knife and move.
One of the officers fired a Taser at the suspect as other officers continued to order him to move. A woman can be heard screaming before police opened fire. At least 11 gunshots were heard. A woman who was behind the counter, but not in sight, can be seen running for safety.
Witness describes stabbing by police, shot in downtown Vancouver
Mainul Islam, an international student and food delivery driver, said he had just arrived at the store to pick up an order when the attack happened.
He said the suspect was trying to steal something from the store when an employee tried to intervene.
"And he just pulled out the knife and tried to stab me," he said, describing a weapon the size of his forearm.
"After that, (the employee) said you can take whatever you want, but he didn't listen. Maybe he got angry."
Islam said the man then stabbed a woman in the store.
Police arrived moments later, he said.
"And then all of a sudden, it happened. The police came and shot this man. The police tried to subdue him at first, but he resisted. That's how they shot him."
Other eyewitness videos show first responders performing chest compressions on a person being taken to an ambulance on a stretcher.
British Columbia Emergency Health Services said three people were taken to hospital in critical condition.
In an update Wednesday afternoon, Vancouver police said officers were called to the area just after 11:30 a.m. when staff at Original Joes, a nearby restaurant, called 911 to report a man armed with a knife had stolen alcohol.
Responding officers found the suspect inside the 7-Eleven, said VPD Constable Tania Visintin. Story continues below
Visintin said officers shot the suspect. He was taken to the hospital, but died despite efforts to save him.
"When this incident occurred, the best information we had at the time was that two people had been stabbed," Visintin added.
"What we know now, after these people went to the hospital, is that one person was stabbed and another person was injured ... their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening." ยป
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