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IIO looking for witnesses from Highway 19 police-involved shooting

The incident took place early morning of Oct. 12; shooting victim died
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RCMP investigating a body on the side of Highway 19 following a police-involved shooting on the morning of Oct. 12. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is now seeking witnesses to the fatal incident that involved RCMP officers. — Lauren Collins photo

The Independent Investigation Office of B.C. is looking for witnesses following a fatal incident in Qualicum Beach earlier this month.

RELATED: IIO called to Qualicum Beach after officer-involved shooting

RCMP officers were responding to a report of a male in distress who had allegedly stabbed himself inside a vehicle in the 39000-block of the inland Island Highway on Thursday, Oct. 12 around 6 a.m., according to an RCMP release Oct. 12.

Further 9-1-1 calls informed police that the man was “running down the highway and that someone was trying to restrain him.”

When police arrived, a struggle ensued a struggle ensued between the male and officers and the male was subsequently shot. According to the Oct. 12 release, at least one shot was fired by police. The male did not survive his injuries and two officers were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

IIO investigators were deployed to the scene and have since been interviewing witnesses, collecting physical evidence, interviewing officers and reviewing medical reports, according to a release from the IIO Thursday (Oct. 26).

The IIO is asking anyone who saw, heard or recorded the incident to contact the IIO witness line at 1-855-446-8477.

— NEWS Staff