Vancouver – Vancouver Police shot and injured a man in the Downtown Eastside On Saturday, after an officer was attacked with a weapon while on patrol near the Hastings Street tent city.
Two officers were sitting in their patrol car near East Hastings and Columbia Street on Saturday July 30, about 8 a.m. in morning when a man carrying a weapon approached the police car and struck an officer through an open window.
During the altercation shots were fired by a VPD officer.
The officer sustained a serious head injury and was taken to the hospital for treatment. A 53-year-old suspect was injured and taken to hospital, where he remains in custody for assaulting the officer.
A second VPD officer was later assaulted by a bystander, after he arrived to assist following the police-involved shooting. That officer was not seriously injured, and was able to continue his shift, after the suspect was arrested.
John Corey McKay, 52, has now been charged with one count of aggravated assault. He remains in hospital with injuries.
His next court appearance is August 3.
The illegal sidewalk occupation “tent city” has been growing and getting worse for weeks and plagued with violence and crime. Last week everyone was ordered to leave immediately because of the ‘Catastrophic’ safety hazard it poses for the area.
