Two suspects dead, six officers suffer gunshot wounds in Saanich bank robbery shootout

Two bank robbers are deceased and several officers with the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) have been hospitalized after an exchange of gunfire at a bank in Saanich today. 

At approximately 11 a.m. Tuesday morning, officers with Saanich Police, GVERT and VicPD responded to a call that two armed men had entered the Bank of Montreal in the 3600-block of Shelbourne Street in Saanich. 

Multiple officers responded to the scene, and upon entering the location,  the armed suspects fired at police. 

The two armed suspects were shot by police and died at the scene.

Helicopters, along with the Greater Victoria Response Team, were dispatched to assist in locating a possible third suspect with nearby residents given a Shelter in Place order for their safety.

At around 1:30 p.m., police said they were evacuating homes and businesses near the scene of the incident, due to the presence of a potential explosive device.

A shelter in place remains in place for residents living in the area of North Dairy Road to Cedar Hill Cross Road, and Richmond Road to Cedar Hill Road as officers search for a potential third suspect.

See more: Witnesses capture shootout at Bank of Montreal on Shelbourne Street in Saanich (VIDEO)

Now, according to releases by both Saanich Police and VicPD, two suspects involved in the incident were shot by police and died at the scene. 

Six GVERT officers suffered gunshot wounds and were transported to hospital. Some officers are expected to be released following emergency treatment, while other officers who sustained serious injuries have been taken into surgery. 

Three of the GVERT officers are members of Saanich Police and three are members of VicPD. 

At this time, officers do not believe any bank employees, bank customers or members of the public were physically injured in the accident. 

Witnesses near the scene of the shootout captured the incident where dozens of gunshots were exchanged between the suspects and police.

Video below showed police officers exchanging gunfire with the suspects inside of the bank.

Warning: Video contains graphic content and language that might not be suitable for all readers.

As with all officer-involved shootings in British Columbia, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) is also investigating this incident.

Police are asking anyone with video or photos of the incident to send a copy to their digital evidence collection portal as the investigation continues.

With files from Seanna Wainman, Mike Kelly and Ethan Morneau