Saanich bank where 6 police officers were shot, 2 suspects killed reopens to customers
A Saanich, B.C., bank branch where police officers faced a hail of gunfire in a botched robbery has reopened Tuesday.
It has been exactly three weeks since the shooting occurred, and staff have spent much of that time cleaning the branch, according to the BMO Financial Group. Doors to the bank reopened at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
"Work has been underway to clean up the branch and to come back stronger than ever," reads an e-mail sent to branch members.
On June 28, six members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) were shot as they entered into a gun battle with two heavily armed men adorned in body armor and masks.
The two suspects, who would later be identified as 22-year-old twin brothers from the Cowichan Valley, B.C., were shot dead as the highly trained police unit attempted to secure the bank.
The twins' motivation to enter the bank that Tuesday morning and eventually fire at officers remains unknown, according to investigators.
The shooters' social media profiles did paint a troubling picture.
Posts were filled with images of the boys firing rifles, running around the bush dressed in camouflage clothing, and some captions included anti-government rhetoric.
The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crimes Unit (VIIMCU) has taken over the investigation into the brazen daylight shootout.
Saanich police respond to the incident at the Bank of Montreal on June 28, 2022. (CTV News)
INJURED OFFICERS RECOVERING
The six members of the GVERT squad who were shot continue to make strides towards recovery, according to the Saanich and Victoria police departments.
Three officers who were injured were able to immediately leave the hospital, while three others continued to receive treatment weeks after the shooting.
In early July, police said that one of the three injured officers still in hospital, a member of VicPD, was able to leave and continue their recovery at home.
The other two officers, both from Saanich Police Department, remain in hospital as of July 11.
'OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH EVERY PERSON IMPACTED'
On Tuesday, when BMO announced the reopening of the bank branch, the company said it also commended police and everyone touched by the shocking act of violence in Saanich.
"Our thoughts are with every person impacted by the event," said BMO in the announcement.
"We want to take the time to recognize the local police officers for being there for the community, and deeply appreciate their courage in order to keep us safe," the announcement reads.
"As a token of our appreciation, a donation has been made to the Saanich and Victoria Police Association on behalf of BMO Bank of Montreal."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Canada will be absolutely fine': Justin Trudeau, his ministers and Pierre Poilievre congratulate Donald Trump
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of his cabinet congratulated Donald Trump Wednesday morning on his second United States presidential election win, amid questions about how the federal government intends to navigate a second term.
What Donald Trump's election victory could mean for Canada
Following president-elect Donald Trump's decisive election victory, there are sure to be significant knock-on effects for Canada. Here's a look at the different areas in which a second Trump presidency may affect Canadians.
Kamala Harris concedes: Here's what she said in her speech
Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris conceded the U.S. election to Republican Donald Trump Wednesday afternoon, telling her supporters that her 'heart is full.'
Canada orders wind up of TikTok's Canadian business, app access to continue
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok's Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Newfoundland hockey player suspended, banned from local arena after off-ice fight with fan
A combination of a thrown stick and thrown punches have given a senior hockey player in Newfoundland a three-game suspension and an indefinite ban from one of his league's six arenas.
Controversial Australian Olympic breakdancer 'Raygun' retires from competition
Australian breaker Rachael Gunn has told a Sydney radio station that she plans to retire from competition just three months after her unconventional routine at the Paris Olympics led to her being ridiculed and spawned conspiracy theories about how she qualified for the Games.
Sleepy during the day? You may be at higher risk for a pre-dementia syndrome, study finds
If you find yourself sleepy during your daily activities in your older age, you may need to consider it more than an inconvenience — since the fatigue may indicate you’re at higher risk for developing a condition that can lead to dementia, a new study has found.
Kamala Harris made a historic dash for the White House. Here's why she fell short.
"Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn't mean we won't win," U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris said on Wednesday in her concession speech.
Who won the popular vote? U.S. election vote totals from the past 40 years
Donald Trump won the U.S. presidency on Tuesday, and as of Wednesday morning, was also ahead in the popular vote. Historically, though, the candidate with the most votes hasn’t always won the contest.