A man RCMP were trying to arrest at the Departure Bay ferry terminal last May died when he shot himself in the head as police were shooting at him.
That's the conclusion of a report released by the Independent Investigations office.
The report finds that RCMP were responding to a report that a car stolen in a “violent car-jacking” in Penticton was on a B.C. Ferries vessel.
Police positioned their vehicles to separate the suspect car from other ferry traffic and forced the driver to stop. He reached to the passenger seat of the car, raised a long-barrelled handgun and fatally shot himself in the head.
According to the report at the same time the suspect raised the weapon -- officers began firing at him.
The report notes that in addition to the head injury the suspect was shot 3 times in his abdomen, once in his collarbone and once in his left bicep. Paramedics reported the victim had a pulse when checked, but was pronounced dead about 20-30 minutes after being transferred to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
The investigation concludes police officers did nothing criminal.