BC RCMP notifies IIO BC of an incident near Lake Cowichan

The BC RCMP has notified the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO BC) of an incident near Lake Cowichan where one man has died.

On November 29, at approximately 2:30 p.m., North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP received a report of an armed robbery at a business north of Duncan. Officers were able to locate the vehicle that the suspect left in, but lost sight of it as it travelled though Duncan.

The Island District RCMP Emergency Response Team were engaged and at 4 p.m. they located the vehicle parked east of Lake Cowichan. No movement was seen inside, and at approximately 4:45 p.m. officers approached the vehicle and found one deceased man with what appears to be self-inflicted wounds.

The IIO BC is now investigating to determine whether police actions or inactions are linked to the man’s death. As the matter is now under investigation by the IIO BC, no further information will be released by police.