B.C.'s police watchdog has wrapped up its investigation into an officer-involved shooting that left 48-year-old Mehrdad Bayrami dead after a standoff outside a casino in New Westminster in November.
Independent Investigations Office chief civilian director Richard Rosenthal has sent a report to the Crown but, unlike the RCMP, the IIO does not make recommendations for charges.
Information contained in the report has not been made public. The criminal justice branch will now decide whether the there is evidence to consider charges.
The incident began around 6 a.m. on Nov. 8 outside the Starlight Casino after reports of shots being fired.
The officers cordoned off the area and the 24-hour casino was locked down as a safety precaution.
The IIO says officers then spent many hours trying to talk to Bayrami, of Richmond, but he would not comply.
At around 10:45 a.m. one of the officers shot Bayrami in the abdomen and he was transported to Royal Columbian hospital. The Richmond resident died in hospital from his injuries.
IIO spokesman Owen Court could not confirm whether Bayrami had a gun, but said no one else was injured.
Police do not believe the man was at the casino before the standoff began and no hostages were taken in the incident.
The incident caused major traffic delays in the area and the Queensborough Bridge was shut down for several hours.
