Police officer injured in bank shooting in Saanich, B.C., released from hospital

One of the officers who was seriously injured in a shooting outside a bank in Saanich, British Columbia in June has been released from hospital.

The officer, who has not been identified, was discharged from the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria shortly after 2pm on Friday. He will continue to heal at home with his family, the Saanich Police Department said in a news release.

« This officer’s inner strength, determination and courage continue to inspire all SPD personnel and our community, as well as our other injured officers, » said Chief Const. Dean Duthie in the statement.

« We are so grateful for the extraordinary care, compassion and professionalism of the RJH medical staff, nurses, doctors and surgeons who have assisted and guided our officer’s recovery to date. »

Six officers were injured June 28 after a shootout with two armed robbers entered a Montreal bank on Shelbourne Street in Saanich around 11 a.m. Both suspects were shot by police, but the officers — three each from Saanich and Victoria police departments — were hospitalized, most with gunshot wounds.

The three VicPD officers are now recovering at home, and of the three Saanich officers, only one remains in the hospital, making « gradual improvements day by day, » Duthie said.

The officer released on Friday was met by several Saanich police officers and officers from the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team, who also responded to the June shooting. Gendarmes, seven land ambulances and a street supervisor were also deployed to the scene.

2:41
Similarities Between the Saanich BMO Robbery and the 1997 North Hollywood Shooting

Police have identified the suspects in the robbery as brothers Isaac and Mathew Auchterlonie of Duncan, British Columbia, but many questions, including the couple’s motive, remain unknown.

Police have yet to reveal the number and type of firearms used by the suspects, how these weapons were acquired or who fired first when they encountered police outside the BMO branch. from Shellbourne Street. Police also did not release details of the « improvised explosive devices » they say were in the suspects’ vehicle, a white 1992 Toyota Camry four-door with two black racing stripes on the hood.

Global News previously confirmed the 22-year-old brothers worked at Pacific Energy in Duncan until the end of June and had previously attended Frances Kelsey Secondary School in Mill Bay.

Photos and videos on a now-deleted Instagram account attributed to Isaac showed a variety of firearms, some with large capacity magazines, as well as target practice in the forest, anti-Trudeau memes and material denoting an interest in the Second World War. .

With files by Simon Little