Police-involved shooting death in Penticton under investigation

B.C.’s police watchdog is investigating a shooting death in Penticton.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) said the incident that saw an officer discharge their firearm, injuring the suspect who later died, occurred Tuesday, Oct. 22.

Information provided by RCMP to the IIO stated officers from Penticton were dispatched around 3:15 p.m. for a call of a man acting erratically, and possibly wielding a weapon, on Government Street near the hospital.

Police arrived on the scene and attempted to arrest the man, leading to an interaction with an officer.

The RCMP said the officer was injured during the altercation and then fired a shot, injuring the man.

The man was provided first aid for his gunshot injury at the scene and taken to hospital, where he later died.

The IIO was notified of the incident and on Wednesday, Oct. 23, launched their investigation into the incident to confirm the details leading up to the incident, and to determine if the force used by police was necessary, reasonable, and proportionate.

Anyone with information on the incident, including witnesses and people with surveillance or dashcam footage, can contact the IIO toll-free through the Witness Line at 1-855-446-8477, or by filling out the contact form at the IIO website.