IIO is Investigating a Police-Involved Shooting in Kitimat (2023-354)
Case: 2023-354 Incident Date: December 11, 2023 Location: Kitimat Detachment: Kitimat Agency: RCMP Incident Classification: Serious Harm Case Status: Open - Investigation in ProgressINFORMATION BULLETIN
Independent Investigations Office
For Immediate Release
Surrey, B.C. — The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC is investigating a police-involved shooting in Kitimat on December 11, 2023.
Information provided by the RCMP today states that at around 8:00 a.m., police located a vehicle that had been reported stolen. Attempts to stop the vehicle and the man driving it were unsuccessful.
Police located the same vehicle again later in the morning and attempted to arrest the driver. There was then an interaction resulting in one officer discharging their firearm and the affected person sustained a serious injury as a result.
The IIO was notified of the incident shortly after it happened and initial investigative steps will seek to confirm the details leading up to and including the incident, as well as whether any force used was necessary, proportionate, and justified under the circumstances.
The IIO is asking any person with relevant information or video footage of the incident to please contact the Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.
Background
The IIO is the Independent civilian oversight agency of the police in British Columbia. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.