Mounties in Surrey are hoping a witness will come forward after an incident last month ended with police officers shooting and seriously injuring a suspect.
The Surrey RCMP is looking for the man who reported that there was a person with a gun near 152 Street and 104 Avenue on Sunday, March 17.
Police say at that time two officers were doing foot patrols in the area when they received the report.
Mounties claim officers found the man who then ran away when approached.
“Shortly after, two police officers with the Surrey Police Service located the man who reportedly produced a weapon,” Corp. Alex Berube said in a statement in March.
“One of the officers discharged their firearm striking him. Medical assistance was provided and he was transported to hospital with serious injuries. Nobody else was injured.”
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) has taken over the investigation into the actions of officers, in line with its mandate to determine the circumstances when officer-related incidents result in serious harm or death.
However, the RCMP says it’s looking to connect with the witness who made the initial report in an effort to get more information for its own investigation regarding the man with a gun.
“Between 9:45 pm and 9:50 pm, the witness approached a Surrey Police Service officer on the east side entrance of Guildford Mall, which is close to the Forever 21 clothing store,” Corp. James Mason shared Monday.
Mounties describe the man as being 5’8″ tall and was clean-shaven at the time. Police add he spoke Punjabi and English.
“If you are the witness who reported this incident to police, we want to hear from you. If anyone else in the community has any information and may have been a witness to this incident, call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 and quote file 2024-37949.”