Police watchdog called to officer-involved shooting death in Nanaimo

The Independent Investigations Office, the civilian-led agency tasked with investigating police-involved incidents resulting in death or serious harm, has been called to Nanaimo to look into the fatal police shooting of a man.

An area of Nanaimo near Norwell Drive. and Highway 19A is cordoned off with police tape.

According to an emailed statement from the IIO,Nanaimo RCMPresponded to a report of a male carrying a knife in the areaaround 10.20 a.m.

The IIO said police located the man on nearbyCountry Club Drive where an encounter occurredandpolicefired shots. No other details of the incident were provided.

The manwas taken to hospital but died.

Heard shots

Jay Kim, who owns the Good Neighbours ThriftStore across the street, said he heard shots around10:40 a.m.

Kim said he saw aperson trying to flee the scene as a police car chased him. He said the neighbourhood was quiet this morning when shots rang out.

"I heard three times 'bang, bang, bang,' " Kim said. "After maybe two, three minutes later, two ambulances and one fire rescue came."

The RCMP say there is no risk to the publicbut are asking people to avoid the area.

The IIO says investigators from its Surrey office are enroute to Nanaimo to conduct the investigation.

Potential witnesses are asked to call the IIO info line.

Map: Highway 19A and Norwell Drive

With files from Megan Thomas