“18-Year-Old Man Shot and Killed by Police at Clinton Park in Vancouver”

An 18-year-old man was shot and killed by police at Clinton Park in East Vancouver after he refused to drop a knife and advanced towards the officers. The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIOBC) is conducting a thorough investigation to determine if the officers’ actions were justified. This is the second fatal police-involved incident in Vancouver this year. BNN Breaking reported

A tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning at Clinton Park in East Vancouver, resulting in the fatal shooting of a young man. This incident has prompted an investigation by the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIOBC), an independent civilian oversight agency responsible for examining cases involving police officers that lead to death or serious harm.

According to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), they received a distress call at approximately 2:15 a.m. on Saturday, August 6, 2023. The call reported that an individual, later identified as 18-year-old Daniel Lee, was brandishing a knife and posing a threat to park visitors in the Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood at the intersection of Grant Street and Penticton Street.

Upon arriving at the scene, VPD officers confronted Lee, who refused to comply with their instructions to drop the knife and instead advanced towards them. In response, the officers discharged multiple rounds, tragically resulting in Lee’s death. Thankfully, no other individuals sustained injuries during the incident. Law enforcement subsequently recovered the knife from the park as evidence.

The IIOBC swiftly became involved in the case and deployed investigators to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Their primary objective is to determine whether the officers’ actions were justified and lawful. The VPD has pledged its full cooperation with the IIOBC, promising to provide all pertinent information and evidence to aid in the investigation. Additionally, the VPD expressed its heartfelt condolences to Daniel Lee’s bereaved family and friends during this difficult time.

This regrettable shooting marks the second fatal police-involved incident in Vancouver this year. In January, a 37-year-old man was fatally shot by police after he attacked an officer with a knife near the Joyce-Collingwood SkyTrain station.

It is essential that this investigation be carried out meticulously and impartially to ensure transparency and maintain public trust in the police force. The IIOBC’s findings will shed light on the circumstances surrounding this tragic event and offer insight into the officers’ response..