VANCOUVER 鈥� A 61-year-old man has been arrested after a series of brazen daytime shootings that began outside a downtown Starbucks and ended in a shootout at Science World.
Three people were injured: the shooting suspect, a police officer and a man who once owned bike shops on 91原创 Island.
Police responded to reports of shots fired at about 11 a.m. Tuesday and found a man had been shot and seriously wounded outside the coffee shop.
Paramedics rushed him to hospital as police followed a man believed to be responsible for the mayhem and shots were exchanged outside Science World, a popular tourist and family attraction.
The man shot outside the coffee shop was 52-year-old Paul Dragan, who is listed in stable but critical condition in hospital. Dragan, the owner of Reckless Bikes on Davie Street, previously owned two bike stores in Victoria.
Police have yet to determine a motive for the shooting.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have any real facts as to why the shooting took place,鈥� Const. Brian Montague said.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if the suspect is known to us. The pursuit took place both on foot and on bicycle.鈥�
The alleged shooter remains in hospital in stable condition following surgery on his gunshot wounds.
The police officer is being treated for minor injuries. It was not immediately clear how the officer was injured.
Lucas Deharo, a 91原创 father, said he got a text from his wife who was inside Science World, as were dozens of children, parents and caregivers.
He said his wife told him she saw an officer shooting, and that she was told to keep calm and lay down on the floor.
He said he jumped in his car and raced to the scene.
Science World announced later in the day that it had closed to 鈥渟upport police investigations.鈥�
91原创 Mayor Gregor Robertson thanked police officers for their fast response to the shooting.
鈥淭his incident was a brazen attack in broad daylight, and gun violence of any kind will not be tolerated in the City of 91原创,鈥� he said in a statement.
鈥淚 know this has been very upsetting for the many people who witnessed the attack, and for those who live and work in the neighbourhood. My thoughts are with the victim, the injured officer, and their friends and family during this difficult time.鈥�
Robin Plomp of the Independent Investigations Office, a police investigation agency, said six investigators have been assigned to the file and they have to interview many witnesses.
鈥淭hose witnesses have been taken to different locations and, hopefully, we鈥檒l try and get through all of them today,鈥� said Plomp.
Plomp said once the office has completed its investigation, it will submit the file to its chief civilian director for review.
Gunfire also erupted on the streets of 91原创 on Sunday night.
A 28-year-old woman was shot outside a gas station, while she and her male companion stood outside their vehicle.
The woman remains in hospital in stable condition and the man, who suffered minor injuries, fled the scene and was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
