Man dies after being shot by RCMP at hospital in Hope

HOPE, B.C. – British Columbia's police watchdog is investigating the death of a man who was shot by an RCMP officer in southern British Columbia Wednesday.

Mounties say an "interaction" between the man and officers occurred at the Fraser Canyon Hospital in Hope, B.C., resulting in one officer discharging their firearm.

In a statement, police say the man received immediate medical attention but was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police say they were initially called to a report of a two-vehicle collision on Highway 5 at the Zopkios off-ramp, where multiple people were identified with non-life-threatening injuries and transported to the hospital.

RCMP say an altercation allegedly occurred between two of the injured people that resulted in BC Emergency Health Services personnel requesting police assistance, which is when officers responded to the hospital.

The Fraser Canyon Hospital emergency department was temporarily closed while the Independent Investigations Office of BC investigated.

In a statement, the Fraser Health Authority says all patients, staff and medical personnel are physically safe and unharmed but the department will remain closed until the investigation concludes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2023.