3 arrests made in Vancouver double homicide and abduction

Vancouver policehave arrested three peoplein connection witha double homicide in East Vancouverand rescued a person who was kidnapped.

The three men, all in their 20s, were arrested Monday afternoon in a dramatic takedown onEast Eighth Avenue near Blair Avenuein New Westminster.

Police say they are suspects in the deaths ofSamantha Le, 29, andXuan Vanvy Bacao, 24, who were found dead in their home on Dieppe Place near Dieppe Drive in East Vancouver,September 17.

Charges are being recommendedbut have not been laid. Police say the connection between the victims and suspect is not being revealed as the investigation is still ongoing.

Acting VPD Sgt. Brian Montague said police became aware of the deaths after responding to a reported abduction. When they arrived at the home, they found the bodies of Le and Bacao, along with an unharmed four-year-old child.

"This investigation went to a point very quickly where there were officers pulled in from all over the Vancouver Police Department," said Montague.

Dramatic takedown in New West

While police searched in multiple jurisdictions, the investigation centred on New Westminster.

"I can't underline how dangerous of a situationit was. We're dealing with armed people, who have potentially committed murders, who have a kidnapping in their vehicle, and we had to act very quickly," said Montague.

At least eightVPD officersconducted a painstaking search of yards, flower beds and porches in the BlairStreet neighbourhood of New Westminster, where the suspects werearrested after a dramatic chase Monday afternoon.

A woman who lives on the street butwho did not wantto be identified told CBC News she heard a loud series of bangs right before she saw a man taken into custody.

"When I finally got enough courage to come outside, I saw a police dog dragging a man down thelittlegrassyhill. There were people running all over the place."

"I heard afterwards the bangswere stun bombs but ... I don't know what those sound like, and I don't know what gunshots sound like, she said.

• Double murder suspected in grisly East Vancouver discovery

Two innocent civilians injured

Two innocent bystanders were injured in the takedown when the car they were in crashed with the suspect's vehicle. One of the people in the bystander's car got out and was further injured by a police dog while running away.

"This isn't a case where we're dealing with a couple of known suspects ...waiting for them to go to a place to make an arrest," said Montague.

"We're dealing with multiple suspects, potentially multiple vehicles. We're dealing with a active kidnapping. Unfortunately, sometimes we can't wait."

Police say the investigation is ongoingand ask anyone who may have information to contact theVancouver Homicide Unit at604-717-2500,or if they wish to stay anonymous,Crime Stoppersat 1-800-222-8477.