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Gunfire erupted in the middle of downtown Vancouver late Saturday afternoon sending people scrambling for cover, witnesses said.
The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. on Robson Street between Homer and Richards streets.
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Police did not immediately confirm that there had been a shooting. But Mayor Ken Sim, who was in the area to attend a concert, arrived at the scene to get a briefing from police.
“There was an incident here. Public safety was at risk. I don’t have more to say at this point in time,” Sim said.
One eyewitness who called 911 said a couple dozen people ran into an IGA after the shots rang out. He said a white vehicle pulled up behind a black SUV in an alleyway. At least two people emerged from the white vehicle and fired at the SUV before getting back into the vehicle and escaping down the alley.
A dog in the SUV was hit, the witness said.
During the gunfire, the black SUV lurched forward from the alley and collided with a white SUV driving along Robson, the witness said.
Another witness said a woman was crying and being attended to by firefighters. The witness said she emerged from the central library and saw people running in all directions. Cyclists ditched their bikes in the middle of the street.
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