The coroner’s inquest into the death of Daniel Peter Rintoul, 38, featured testimony on Wednesday from an East Vancouver loss prevention officer and a Vancouver police officer.
In November 2016, Vancouver police shot 38-year-old Daniel Peter Rintoul nine times after he attacked a policeman in the parking lot of the store on Grandview Highway.
It was a day of different but similar descriptions of the events of the Nov. 10, 2016, incident.
The loss prevention officer gave an account of what he witnessed inside the store and the events preceding the opening round of gunfire.
Irfan Elahi testified at the corner’s inquest about Rintoul entering the Canadian Tire, attacking staff members behind the gun counter, and using bear spray.
When the suspect broke into the gun cabinet and attempted to load weapons with ammo, according to his testimony, he knew this wasn’t a heist but rather something much more dangerous.
He was concerned that it would escalate into a shooting spree.
Elahi also described how Rintoul seized a hostage and fled the store after he was unable to load any guns.
On Wednesday, a Vancouver police officer gave testimony as well.
Rintoul was on the parking deck when the first police officers showed up at the site.
Before VPD Const. Gary Li could even approach the suspect, whom he assumed was the person responsible for the call, he and his partner were attacked with bear spray.
Li claimed he used his taser when Justin Fraser, one of his partners, attempted to handcuff Rintoul. However, the assailant persisted in the struggle, repeatedly stabbing Fraser.
Li recalled being affected by the bear spray, fearing for his life and the lives of those around him, and realising that his partner had been hurt.
Then Rintoul was shot. According to the records, he fired four rounds.
Li asserted that Rintoul wasn’t unconscious. He was yelling for the police to kill him.
Fraser was rescued, but Rintoul was still carrying a knife and bear spray, and a police gun lay on the ground.
When additional officers came, Rintoul was shot more times.
On Wednesday, Li choked up as he remembered attending to his partner’s stab wounds throughout the emotional testimony.
Li was compelled to take more than a year out of work in order to recover from the trauma of his ordeal.
Next week, his partner Justin Fraser is anticipated to give a testimony.
During the inquest, the Vancouver police officer who shot the guy outside of Canadian Tire gave an emotional statement.
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