Last Saanich police officer injured in bank shooting released from hospital
A Saanich, B.C., police officer who was seriously injured in a shootout at a bank more than two months ago was released from hospital Wednesday.
The officer, who has eight years of police service experience, is a member of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) and was the last of six officers to be released from hospital following the shooting.
Saanich Police Chief Dean Duthie says the officer was shot several times and went through multiple life-saving surgeries in the first few days of care, followed by even more surgeries during his 71 days in hospital.
He'll now continue his recovery at home, according to police.
"Police, fire, paramedics, health-care workers and of course family and friends all gathered this morning outside the Victoria General Hospital to send him off," said Saanich police in a statement Wednesday.
On June 28, officers were called to a Bank of Montreal branch on Shelbourne Street in Saanich for reports of two armed men taking hostages at the bank.
When police arrived, a shootout occurred, leaving both suspects dead and six GVERT officers injured.
Outside the bank, police also found explosive devices inside of a parked car that was linked to the suspects.
Three of the injured officers were members of the Victoria Police Department, while three were from the Saanich Police Department.
Duthie says he's only able to comment on the condition of the Saanich officers, noting that one of the injured officers has returned to work.
The two shooting suspects were later identified as twin brothers Mathew and Isaac Auchterlonie, 22, of Duncan, B.C.
A now-deleted Instagram account belonging to Isaac showed the brothers had an interest in guns, the wilderness, and shared anti-government and anti-vaccine opinions.
The account also had videos of the brothers shooting rifles in the woods, and featured several clips from a documentary about a bank shootout in North Hollywood in 1997.
At one point, Mathew had also tried to join the Canadian Army, but did not pass an aptitude test, according to a Canadian Armed forces spokesperson.
The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crimes Unit is leading the investigation into the brazen daylight shooting.
Saanich Police Chief Constable Dean Duthie provides an update about the shootout between two robbery suspects and police yesterday leaving the suspects deceased and six members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team in hospital as he answers questions about the incident during a press conference at the Saanich Police department in Saanich, B.C., on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Joly, Blair condemn anti-NATO protest in Montreal that saw fires, smashed windows
Federal cabinet ministers condemned an anti-NATO protest in Montreal that turned violent on Friday, saying 'hatred and antisemitism' were on display.
Afraid of losing the U.S.-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts
Mexico has been taking a bashing lately for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America, and officials here are afraid a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could try to leave their country out of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement.
NEW Thinking about taking an 'adult gap year'? Here's what experts say you should know
Canadian employees are developing an appetite for an 'adult gap year': a meaningful break later in life to refocus, refresh and indulge in something outside their daily routine, according to experts.
Walking pneumonia is surging in Canada. Is it peaking now?
CTVNews.ca spoke with various medical experts to find out the latest situation with the typically mild walking pneumonia in their area and whether parents should be worried.
Prime Minister Trudeau attends Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Toronto with family
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a Swiftie. His office confirmed to CTV News Toronto that he and members of his family are attending the penultimate show of Taylor Swift's 'The Eras Tour' in Toronto on Friday evening.
Minister calls GST holiday, $250 cheques for 18 million Canadians 'a targeted approach'
Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister Marci Ien is calling the federal government's proposed GST holiday and $250 rebate cheques a 'targeted approach' to address affordability concerns.
ICC warrants are binding, EU cannot pick and choose, EU's Borrell says
European Union governments cannot pick and choose whether to execute arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against two Israeli leaders and a Hamas commander, the EU's foreign policy chief said on Saturday.
Doctor at the heart of Turkiye's newborn baby deaths case says he was a 'trusted' physician
The Turkish doctor at the center of an alleged fraud scheme that led to the deaths of 10 babies told an Istanbul court Saturday that he was a 'trusted' physician.
UN talks in disarray as a rough draft deal for climate cash is rejected by developing nations
As nerves frayed and the clock ticked, negotiators from rich and poor nations were huddled in one room Saturday during overtime United Nations climate talks to try to hash out an elusive deal on money for developing countries to curb and adapt to climate change.