A GoFundMe has been launched for the families of the six officers injured during a bank shooting in Saanich last Tuesday.
The fundraising campaign was launched by the Saanich Police Association and Victoria City Police Union three days ago, and has quickly exceeded its $100,000 goal.
The incident began shortly after 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28th, at a BMO on Shelbourne Street.
Officers with the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team and additional Saanich and Victoria police departments responded to a call that two armed men had entered the bank located in the 3600-block of Shelbourne Street in Saanich.
Two heavily armed men, identified on Saturday as two brothers from Duncan, engaged in a shootout with officers outside of the building.
During the gunfight, six members of the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team were shot and the brothers died at the scene. Three officers currently remain in hospital after suffering potentially life threatening injuries.
“The total impact of this event is still unknown as some of our officers are facing life-altering injuries. As a result of community members asking where they can send financial support, we generated this GoFundMe page,” said the GoFundMe organizer Chelsea Cofield.
The organizers of the GoFundMe say a joint committee has been established in an effort to ensure the officers and their families are taken care of during this time.
As of this publication, $141,610 has been raised. The GoFundMe remains open and you can donate here.
“Our hope is that none of our members need to worry about any financial burden during this time and can focus on healing and being together with their loved ones,” reads the page.
The scene of the robbery and shooting was reopened late Saturday afternoon.
Police are still working on determining a motive for the incident, and are asking anyone with information to contact investigators.
BC RCMP held a rare Saturday morning press conference at their downtown Victoria headquarters and revealed the suspects were two brothers from Duncan.
The deceased suspects are 22-year-old brothers Issac Auchterlonie and Mathew Auchterlonie. Neither suspect had a previous criminal record nor were they known to police.
RCMP said investigators have spoken with their family and that they are cooperating with the investigation.
Issac’s Instagram account, which has since been deleted, showed he owned several high-powered weapons and was a war enthusiast.
A Canadian Armed Forces (CFA) spokesperson confirmed Mathew had applied to join the forces but did not pass an aptitude test. The CFA would not reveal when he applied.
One post on the account was of the North Hollywood bank shootout of 1997 which some say shows a striking similarity to the Saanich incident.
In that case, two bank robbers were wearing bulletproof vests and homemade body armour on their legs and carrying automatic rifles.
In that incident, both robbers were killed, twelve police officers and eight civilians were injured, and numerous vehicles and other property were damaged or destroyed by nearly 2,000 rounds of ammunition fired by the robbers and police.
Police said the local investigation to date has determined that only two suspects were in the Saanich bank; however, they are continuing to look into whether anyone else was involved.
VIIMCU confirmed that the two individuals were connected with the white 4-door 1992 Toyota Camry which has two black racing stripes over the hood and roof.
The vehicle was located in the BMO parking lot and contained explosives.
Since police released the photo on Thursday of the vehicle and requesting the public’s help, RCMP said they have received a number calls and tips which they continue to follow up on.
Anyone with recent information or interactions with the two suspects, who saw the Toyota Camry in the week prior to the incident or anything else that could be related are once again as to please contact VIIMCU at 250-380-6211.
Saanich Police said will be releasing the names of the injured SPD officers and provide an update on their health status at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
In addition to the GoFundMe, you can send Saanich PD and VicPD your well-wishes here
