DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Mounties have shot and killed a man outside a BC Hydro public information session on the planned Site C hydroelectric dam in the province's Peace region.
Dawson Creek RCMP said Thursday evening they were called about a man damaging property and disrupting the hearing.
Police said that when they arrived, they encountered a masked man outside the venue and believed he was connected to the complaint.
RCMP said despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, there was a confrontation and the unidentified man was shot and later died in hospital.
Mounties secured the scene pending the arrival of a team from the Independent Investigations Office on Friday morning.
The police watchdog investigates all officer-involved incidents in British Columbia that result in death or serious injury.
Spokeswoman Kellie Kilpatrick said a forensic specialist was to take over the scene while investigators spoke with witnesses and secured any video.
Kilpatrick said it was early in the investigation and she did not have further details about the confrontation between the man and police.
She said the IIO would not release any details about the identities of the officers or the deceased.
"The information we have is that a male was creating a disturbance, allegedly destroying property," she said. "The individual was escorted from the event and subsequently came into contact with police just outside.
"Our information from police is that he was non-compliant with their directions and an altercation took place and he was shot."
The B.C. government granted approval on July 7 for the first phase of construction to start on the massive Site C project on the Peace River.
Several lawsuits by environmental groups, citizens and First Nations have been launched to try to stop construction of the controversial dam and are proceeding through the courts.
The meeting at the Fixx Urban Grill in Dawson Creek's Stonebridge Hotel was the last of five public consultations held in the province this month.
BC Hydro has yet to issue a statement on the shooting.
