An armed man who held several hostages inside a bank in Vaughan Wednesday afternoon was fatally shot after police tried to negotiate with him, York Regional police said.Const. Andy Pattenden said police used lethal force to “gain control of the subject” after attempting to negotiate with the man. The Special Investigations Unit, the province’s police watchdog, has taken over the investigation. Police were called to a bank branch near Dufferin St. and Major Mackenzie Dr. W. just after 1 p.m.Initially police were able to get some customers and employees out of the bank, Pattenden said, but a number of people remained inside with the gunman.“It did turn into a hostage situation for us.”Pattenden said it was not immediately clear if the man was attempting to rob the bank. Though paramedics were treating some people at the scene for minor injuries, mostly chest pains related to anxiety, no serious injuries were immediately reported.“They are definitely traumatized. This is a very traumatic event and we’re going to be doing everything we can to help those people,” said Pattenden. Police were also investigating a vehicle of interest located outside of the bank.Helicopters whirled above the snowy suburban neighbourhood, as the hostages were treated in a bus ambulance, in a shopping plaza enclosed by ribbons of yellow police tape.The owner of the Esso Station nearby described the moment the hostages were brought out, their hands tied with cable.“They looked frightened,” said Maatn Arasaratnai. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”Hostage situations are very challenging, but “York is a very well equipped, very well trained organization,” said Tom Hart, who has 20 years of experience as a negotiator for the Durham Regional Police Service and is now the president of Canadian Critical Incident Inc., which trains police in crisis negotiation.When police arrive at the scene of a hostage s ...
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