Woman who barricaded herself in burning suite in Victoria dies: police watchdog

SURREY, B.C. – British Columbia’s police watchdog says a woman who barricaded herself in a burning suite in Victoria on Christmas Day has now died of her injuries.

The Independent Investigations Office says Victoria police reported officers responded to a disturbance involving an armed female in a multi-unit residential building on the evening of Dec. 25.

The emergency response team was called in when it was determined she had barricaded herself in a suite and firefighters were summoned when smoke was seen coming from the unit.

The emergency response team moved in and the woman was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition.

The investigations office says it was notified the woman died Sunday.

The office is an independent civilian oversight agency that investigates all officer-related incidents resulting in serious harm or death.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2019.