VANCOUVER — The Independent Investigations Office has taken over the case of a 51-year old man who died after an altercation with police in East Vancouver.
Officers responded late Friday afternoon to reports of a distraught man acting erratically.
A release issued by police says the man was standing at an intersection (41st and Knight St) shouting and waving around a two-by-four.
Police say that when the suspect refused to comply with their orders to put down the lumber, officers attempted to disarm him by opening fire with bean-bag rounds.
The release, however, says the man was eventually shot with bullets, and was pronounced dead in hospital a short time later.
One witness said officers fired several rounds when they were within about two metres of the suspect.
No officers were hurt during the incident, and no further details have been released.
