A five-year veteran of the VPD and an employee of an East Vancouver store remain in hospital as investigators continue to search for evidence and a possible motive in yesterday’s violent incident.

Shortly after 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 10th, a man dressed in camouflage entered the Canadian Tire near Grandview Hwy and Rupert Street, stabbed a store clerk in the back and across the neck, and began removing firearms from the gun cabinets.

The suspect abandoned the weapons and began making his way to the exit as police continued to receive multiple 9-1-1 calls. On his way out of the store he grabbed hold of a customer, an 82-year-old man, and held him hostage. As he came out the doors to the roof-top parking lot holding his hostage at knifepoint, he was confronted by responding officers.

When police tried to arrest the suspect, he stabbed a VPD officer multiple times, including in the head and abdomen. Police shot the suspect and he died at the scene.

The officer and the 53-year-old Canadian Tire employee were rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries as more police officers arrived and searched the store for any additional suspects and victims.

Unconfirmed information provided to police during the incident suggested there may have been more than one suspect. After reviewing video and speaking with additional witnesses, investigators are confident that this man acted alone.

The deceased has been identified as a 38-year-old Vancouver resident originally from Alberta. A search of his home has provided police with concerning evidence of his possible criminal intentions, which will all be part of this ongoing investigation.

The BC Coroners Service will be providing the identity of the deceased early next week.

The VPD are asking anyone with video of the incident to contact them at 604-717-2500. Investigators are specifically interested in video that has been provided to the media, but not to investigators with the VPD or the IIO, and are asking those witnesses to come forward.

The injured officer and store employee remain in stable condition at hospital. The 82-year-old hostage was not physically injured.