Police shoot Edmundston robbery suspect after highway chase

A 34-year old man suspected of robbing an Edmundston business was shot by police Monday night after being chased on the Trans-Canada Highway.

The man, who was arrested and is now in hospital, is suspected of robbing Gallant Enterprise in Edmundston, shooting an employee, stealing two vehicles and threatening police.

No other details about the man were released, and no charges have been laid.

Edmundston police said they responded to a call about a break and enter at the Gallant Enterprise recycling plant early Monday morning.

A man fled the scene with a stolen company van, which he later crashed near the Trans-Canada Highway before fleeing on foot.

• Edmundston police search for armed robber who maimed worker

At the time, the New Brunswick RCMP's police dog services were called to assist in the search for the man.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Monday, a man believed to be the suspect, was discovered by Edmundston police as he drove on the Trans-Canada in another stolen vehicle.

"Members of the Edmundston police followed the vehicle, which led into RCMP jurisdiction," the RCMP said in a news release Tuesday.

Edmundston police continued to pursue the vehicle along the highway between Edmundston and Saint-Lonard.

Meanwhile, RCMP placed a spike belt on the highway, which halted the suspect's vehicle.

Police shoot suspect

Police said the man got out of the vehicle with a firearm a shotgun, according to Insp. Steve Robinson of the Edmundston Police Force.

The manlater "took actions that were threatening" toward police, and they shot him, police said.

Robinson did not say if he was hit more than once or by more than one officer. He said he can't speak to the details of the incident because the investigation is still going on.

"What happened is that at some point, he made some gesture that put the officers at risk, and they did what they had to do," Robinson told CBC News.

The man was transported to hospital with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.

Robinson said he could not say who shot the man,but he said both Edmundston and RCMP officers were at the scene.

"All the officers there were involved," he said. "I don't know who shot, if it's an RCMP or Edmundston Police Force."

The recycling centre worker who was allegedly shot by the suspect earlier in the day, lost part of an ear and suffered a facial burn, a company representative told Radio-Canada on Monday.

Robinson said Monday the employee was wounded with a pellet gun, but on Tuesday he said there was no pellet gun and the suspect was armed with a shotgun.

The Edmundston Police Force and the New Brunswick RCMP's Major Crime Unit are conducting an investigation. An independent review of the incident and actions from police will also be conducted.

Two nearby schools were placed under flexible confinement Monday as a precautionary measure when the alleged robber was on the loose, but normal activities resumed Tuesday.