Fundraiser for officers injured in Saanich, B.C., shooting tops $75,000
An online fundraiser to benefit police officers injured during the shootout at a Saanich, B.C. bank earlier this week has raised more than $75,000 in less than two days.
The GoFundMe page is endorsed by the unions representing Saanich and Victoria police officers and had surpassed $78,000 as of 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The fundraiser's stated goal is $100,000.
Officers from the Victoria and Saanich police departments responded to a robbery in progress at the Bank of Montreal on Shelbourne Street in Saanich Tuesday morning. In the ensuing standoff, six of them were shot.
As of Thursday, three of the injured officers remained hospitalized.
In an update on the case Saturday morning, the BC RCMP's Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit – which is leading the ongoing investigation – referred questions about the injured officers' health to the municipal departments.
CTV News reached out to both departments for an update Saturday.
The Victoria Police Department said in an email that three of its officers were shot during the incident and one remained in hospital as of Saturday.
"All face a long road ahead," said spokesperson Bowen Osoko in the email.
The remaining injured officers work for the Saanich Police Department. Spokesperson Const. Markus Anastasiades confirmed two of the department's officers remained in hospital Saturday, but added that Saanich police have no new information on their condition to share.
"It is nice to know everyone is asking and reaching out, showing their concern and overall empathy during this entire tragic incident," Anastasiades said in an email.
Officials from both departments have thanked the public for their support in the wake of Tuesday's incident. On Saturday, Osoko reiterated that sentiment.
"The continued support from the public is heartwarming and incredible," Osoko said. "Last night, at Victoria's Canada Day celebrations, people put on blue #GVERT (Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team) stickers by the thousands and Cst. Cam MacIntyre was invited up on stage to thank the Victoria crowd for their support."
According to the GoFundMe page, "multiple sworn and civilian members of the Saanich Police Association (SPA) and Victoria City Police Union (VCPU) have been physically and mentally injured" by the shooting, and some of the officers who were shot are "facing life-altering injuries."
"The SPA and VCPU have created a joint committee in an effort to ensure our members and their families are taken care of during this time," the fundraising page reads.
"Many expenses are expected to arise over the coming months and potentially long-term. The money raised will allow us to provide continued support to our members in a variety of ways, including but not limited to accommodation and transportation for families of those who are in hospital, psychological support, modifications to homes to allow for future transition from hospital and much more."
The two gunmen involved in the robbery were shot and killed at the scene. On Saturday, the VIIMCU identified them as 22-year-old twin brothers Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.