SURREY (NEWS1130) – A female Canadian Border Services officer has been shot at the Peace Arch crossing.  She’s in hospital in stable condition.  The incident happened around 2 p.m. on Tuesday.  The shooter is dead following what RCMP say was a self-inflicted gunshot.  He was coming into Canada, driving a vehicle that had Washington license plates.

“We are working right now with all available resources at the scene to try and establish exactly the sequence of events that took place between the arrival of this individual to the Peace Arch crossing and subsequently what let to the events that unfolded after this,” says Surrey RCMP Corporal Bert Paquet.

He adds police are now combing over surveillance video and speaking to witnesses for more information.

Paquet says it looks like the officer was shot in the neck.  “The [border] officer was airlifted to hospital to receive treatment.  The officer was breathing at the time.”

It’s unclear if the suspect knew the officer, who was in her booth at the time, or whether there was any dialogue between the two before the shooting.

Federal Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews issued the following statement after the shooting.

“I am deeply concerned by the news of the shooting today at the Peace Arch border crossing of a CBSA officer. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and colleagues of this Border Service Officer.”

“This event is a sobering reminder of the dangerous conditions faced daily by the men and women of our law enforcement agencies as they work to protect the safety and security of Canadians.”

“I know the prayers of British Columbians are with the injured officer and her family and friends.  This tragic event is obviously also very  upsetting for her colleagues, for police who are investigating and indeed
for any witnesses,” says Justice Minister and Attorney General Shirley Bond.

Homicide investigators have taken over the investigation because of the “attempted murder aspect of the file.”

Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604.599.0502 or Crime Stoppers at 1.800.222.TIPS.

As a result of the shooting the crossing has been shut down until at least 4 p.m. Wednesday.  You are being told to head to another border crossing.

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