A man is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Port Hardy that is now being investigated by B.C.’s police watchdog.
Witnesses told the North Island Gazette that a knife-wielding man was shot multiple times by an officer at around 11:30 a.m., near the intersection of Highway 19 and Granville Street.
One witness said the officer fired two shots, causing the man to fall to the ground for a moment before he got back on his feet.
That’s when officers fired three or four more shots, according to the witness.
In a statement, Port Hardy RCMP confirmed shots were fired by police and that a suspect was dead, but did not say how many shots were fired.
They also said the suspect was reportedly making threats toward security staff at a firefighting staging area at Port Hardy Secondary School earlier in the day.
Mounties also heard the suspect was brandishing a knife.
They then found him at the intersection, where he was fatally shot.
No police officers or members of the public were injured, according to RCMP.
The Independent Investigations Office has since been called in to probe the incident.
The age and identity of the deceased person has not been released.
Witnesses said he looked to be in his late 20s or early 30s.
The body remained covered in the intersection for several hours as IIO officers travelled to Port Hardy to conduct their investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the IIO at 1-855-446-8477.
