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A violent altercation in downtown Vancouver on Wednesday morning led to a man being shot and killed by police after he allegedly stabbed one person and injured another near Robson and Hamilton Streets.
The incident unfolded shortly after 11:30 a.m. when Vancouver police responded to a call from staff at a nearby restaurant. The call described a man who had stolen alcohol and was armed with a knife. Police were dispatched to the scene and quickly discovered that the suspect had moved to a 7-Eleven store, just across the street from the Vancouver Central Public Library.
Witnesses reported that the man used the knife to stab one person in the hand and injure another in the face. According to Const. Tania Visintin, Vancouver Police Department spokesperson, police shot the suspect at the scene. Emergency medical responders provided first aid before the man was rushed to the hospital, where he was later declared dead. The injuries sustained by the victims were not believed to be life-threatening.
One witness, Kylie Noel, who works at the Original Joe's restaurant, described a tense encounter with the man earlier in the morning. She said the suspect had entered the restaurant, demanded water, and refused to leave. After Noel confronted him, he was seen outside with a bottle of alcohol believed to have been stolen from the restaurant. Noel later confirmed the theft through security footage. Moments later, the suspect re-entered the restaurant, grabbed a knife, and made threatening remarks toward staff, prompting a call to the police.
Meanwhile, Mainul Islam, a delivery worker outside the 7-Eleven, witnessed the suspect attempting to steal cigarettes from behind the counter. When store employees tried to stop him, the man reportedly pulled out a knife and attacked. Islam described seeing the suspect stab a woman in the back before running towards the store’s front counter. Moments later, police arrived and fired at the suspect.
In a video recorded by Islam, police officers can be seen aiming weapons inside the store. A stun gun had been deployed prior to the shooting, and multiple gunshots were heard. "It’s a terrible scene," Islam said.
A spokesperson for 7-Eleven expressed condolences for the incident and stated they were cooperating with police in their investigation. British Columbia’s Minister of State for Community Safety, Terry Yung, offered his well wishes to the victims, emphasizing that such incidents are deeply concerning, especially for those directly involved.
Vancouver police are continuing to investigate the incident, with further details expected to be released in the coming days.
