3 police remain in hospital, 1 in ICU, following Saanich bank shooting
Three police officers remain in hospital Tuesday, including one in intensive care, a week after six officers were injured and two suspects were killed in a brazen bank robbery and gunfight in Saanich, B.C.
The three hospitalized officers include two from the Saanich Police Department and one from the Victoria Police Department.
All six of the officers who sustained gunshot wounds are members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team.
Investigators have identified the suspects who were killed in the shootout on June 28 as 22-year-old twin brothers Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie of Duncan, B.C.
The most seriously injured officer has had three surgeries and is "showing signs of improvement" in intensive care, Saanich police Chief Const. Dean Duthie said in a news conference Tuesday morning.
The injured officer, an eight-year veteran of the Saanich force, is now able to hold short conversations with family members, Duthie said.
"The very fact that he's conversing with them will tell you the nature of his recovery at this point," the police chief added.
"The surgical teams, the medical teams and the nursing staff have been doing extraordinary work."
The other Saanich officer who remains in hospital is in stable condition, according to Saanich police. Victoria police declined to disclose the condition of their officer who remains in hospital.
Police initially planned to release the identities of the six injured officers at Tuesday's press conference before abruptly announcing their names would instead be kept private.
"The potential impacts that could result by having identities released at this time made me reconsider," Duthie told reporters.
"These officers are people. They have families, loved ones, hobbies, best friends and a passion for life," he added.
On Monday, the mayor of Duncan told CTV News in a statement that she did not know the family of the brothers killed in the shootout.
"It is hard to believe that something like this could happen on Vancouver Island and that the two people responsible for this were from the Duncan/Cowichan Valley area," said Mayor Michelle Staples.
"We would like to extend our love to the community of Saanich as they try to process what has taken place in their home," Staples added.
"To the courageous officers who were injured on the job, which they do to serve their communities, we extend our heartfelt prayers for your recovery. To the all the officers, employees, customers, and their families, our thoughts are with you."
The RCMP's major crimes unit on Vancouver Island has taken over the investigation. British Columbia's police watchdog, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C., is also investigating the conduct of officers who responded to the incident.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Apple unveils new iPad Pro with 'outrageously powerful' AI-powered chip
Apple is hoping its latest iPad lineup will breathe new life into its sluggish tablet market. In a pre-recorded live streamed event from its Cupertino, California headquarters, the company introduced the latest versions of its iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets, and an all-new Apple Pencil Pro.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.