IIO is Investigating a Police-Involved Shooting in West Kelowna (2023-311)
Case: 2023-311 Incident Date: October 18, 2023 Agency: RCMP Location: West Kelowna Detachment: West Kelowna 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 incident on Skyline Road in West Kelowna this afternoon where one man sustained an injury.
Information provided by the RCMP states that around 12:10 p.m. on October 18, 2023, police responded to a call that a firearm had been discharged in the 700-block of Harvey Avenue in Kelowna.
While police were enroute, further 911 calls indicate that a man with a weapon departed the area in a vehicle. The man was then involved in a collision on Olalla Road and subsequently entered a portable toilet on Skyline Road where he was located by police.
A short time later, it is reported that there was an interaction between the man and police, and an officer discharged their firearm. The man sustained a gunshot-related injury and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The IIO was notified of the incident shortly after it occurred and has deployed investigators to the area to commence an investigation. Initial investigative steps will seek to confirm the details of what occurred leading up to and during the interaction with police, and whether police actions were reasonable, justified, and proportionate in 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.