File: 20-29452

Victoria, BC – A man is in custody after a firearm call this morning.

VicPD Patrol officers were called to a multi-unit temporary residential facility in the 1900-block of Douglas Street just before 8:20 a.m. this morning for a report that a man had discharged a firearm. When officers arrived, they located the suspect in a unit on the site and evidence indicating that a weapon may have been discharged.

Several officers responded, including VicPD K9 and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT). Officers contained the suspect suite, evacuated nearby suites and closed nearby roads to traffic. Officers made contact with the suspect and GVERT Crisis Negotiators began to work with the man to have him exit the suite.

Updates about the incident, the road closures and ongoing efforts to resolve the incident safely were shared on social media in the interest of public safety.

After over two hours of efforts to have the man surrender to officers, he made an unheralded exit from the suite at approximately 11:45 a.m. The man refused to follow officers’ commands and ARWEN less-lethal munitions were successfully deployed to take the man into custody. He was arrested without further incident. As is standard practice when less-lethal munitions are used, the man was assessed by BC Emergency Health Services Paramedics. The man was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and for further assessment. Nearby roads were opened to traffic and residents returned to their suites.

Several aspects of this file, including the type of potential firearm used in the initial incident, remain under investigation. Updates will be provided when possible.

 

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