Saanich Police have released an update on the condition of three of the six officers injured in a shootout with two men outside of a bank last week.
All six officers are members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT), three officers are with VicPD and three are with Saanich Police.
The incident began shortly after 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28th, at a BMO on Shelbourne Street.
Officers with the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team who were nearby for an unrelated incident, and additional Saanich and Victoria police departments responded to a call that two armed men had entered the bank located in the 3600-block of Shelbourne Street in Saanich.
Two heavily armed men, identified on Saturday as two brothers from Duncan, engaged in a shootout with officers outside of the building.
During the gunfight, six members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team were shot and the brothers died at the scene. Three officers currently remain in hospital after suffering potentially life threatening injuries.
In a media release Monday, Saanich Police said they would be releasing the names of the injured officers in a live press conference Tuesday, however, after consulting with family, Chief Constable Dean Duthie said the names would no longer be revealed.
In regards to not releasing the officers’ identity at this time, Duthie says, “These officers and their families are still very deep in their recovery process.”
Two of the Saanich Police officers injured are still in hospital, one remains in ICU and has undergone three surgeries to date.
The third member was released the same day of the incident.
During today’s press conference, Duthie said he visited the officer in stable condition and said he had a good long conversation with him.
“Which let me tell you, was extremely moving and positive,” Duthie said. The officer has been with Saanich PD for eight years and has served in patrol, community engagement and GVERT.
When asked about the most seriously injured Saanich PD officer who remains in ICU, Duthie said, “I don’t know for a fact how many surgeries are being anticipated by the medical teams, but there will be more surgeries that will occur.”
Duthie said the officer has also been with the detachment for eight years and recently joined the GVERT team. He has also done frontline patrol and community engagement.
The officer who was released from hospital the same day has seven years experience and 2.5 years with another detachment. He served in patrol, the detective unit and GVERT.
Duthie did not release any update on the injured VicPD officers, one of whom still remains in hospital. VicPD is expected to provide an update on the condition of their detachment’s officers at a later time.
A GoFundMe for the injured officers and their families has been created and has surpassed $180,000 as of this publication. You can donate to the GoFundMe here.
The scene of the robbery and shooting was reopened late Saturday afternoon.
Police are still working on determining a motive for the incident, and are asking anyone with information to contact investigators.
RCMP said investigators have spoken with their family and that they are cooperating with the investigation.
Issac’s Instagram account, which has since been deleted, showed he owned several high-powered weapons and was a war enthusiast.
A Canadian Armed Forces (CFA) spokesperson confirmed Mathew had applied to join the forces but did not pass an aptitude test. The CFA would not reveal when he applied.
Police said the local investigation to date has determined that only two suspects were in the Saanich bank; however, they are continuing to look into whether anyone else was involved.
VIIMCU confirmed that the two individuals were connected with the white 4-door 1992 Toyota Camry which has two black racing stripes over the hood and roof.
The vehicle was located in the BMO parking lot and contained explosives.
Since police released the photo on Thursday of the vehicle and requesting the public’s help, RCMP said they have received a number calls and tips which they continue to follow up on.
Anyone with recent information or interactions with the two suspects, who saw the Toyota Camry in the week prior to the incident or anything else that could be related are once again as to please contact VIIMCU at 250-380-6211.
In addition to the GoFundMe, you can send Saanich PD and VicPD your well-wishes here
