Two robbery suspects reported to be wearing body armor were killed in an exchange of gunfire Wednesday with police outside a bank in Saanich, British Columbia.
Police reported that six members of the Greater Victoria emergency response team were also injured, three of them critically.
Chief Constable Dean Duthie of Saanich stated that several nearby residences had to be evacuated as police investigated a possible explosive device in a vehicle associated with the suspects.
He said that he had never seen this amount of violence in Saanich in his 27 years on the job.
Outside the Saanich detachment, Duthie told the journalists, "This is something that shakes a community. This will have an effect on people, and we are aware of this."
Later on Tuesday, police removed a shelter-in-place recommendation for other residents of the neighborhood, claiming they had uncovered no evidence of a third suspect in the crime.
Duthie reported that authorities anticipate some of the six officers will soon be discharged from the hospital, while others sustained more severe injuries and underwent surgery.
Officers responded to a report of armed males entering a Bank of Montreal branch, but according to Duthie, the gunfire began as the suspects exited the bank, creating an extremely dangerous scenario for the public.
"I cannot determine who fired first at this time. However, there were many gunshots fired," he said. According to him, the two suspects who were shot by police died at the spot.
Duthie expressed gratitude that no customers, bank staff, or members of the general public were injured during the gunfight.
"Based on what I've described and what I know about that chaotic, tragic, dynamic, and violent situation, the fact that no civilians were hurt is simply astounding," he said.
Jacob McAndrews, proprietor of Gordon Head Paintworks in Victoria, pulled into a sushi restaurant adjacent to the bank when he noticed cops with assault guns seated on the corner, he said.
"When I asked if I should go, they instructed me to park in the corner and crouch down." According to McAndrews, he started filming around that time.
His video depicts a barking police dog leading armed officers around a bend. Followed by dozens of gunfire. One police officer can be seen firing his weapon, while another officer races toward the building while holding a gun.
McAndrews characterized the situation as "very frightening." He said it was the first time he has ever heard gunfire in Victoria.
