‘An officer approached us to tell us we had been in a harmful spot as a result of there was a shooter within the RV who has a gun that may shoot so far as the place we had been standing,’ says witness; name on Bayfield Avenue got here into police round midday Tuesday
An hours-long standoff with police continues tonight in north-end Barrie, resulting in a number of houses and companies being evacuated within the Bayfield Avenue space as a precaution.
Witnesses inform BarrieToday a gunshot was heard early on within the standoff behind buying plaza close to Heather Avenue.
Shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, police mentioned the standoff was ongoing. Disaster negotiators had been known as in earlier within the day.
Bullet holes could possibly be seen on the entrance windscreen of a leisure car (RV) on the centre of the standoff.
Barrie police have mentioned they acquired data round midday a few potential firearm in a car in a parking zone on Bayfield Avenue, between Cundles Highway and Livingstone Avenue.
Police mentioned they made contact with the occupant of the car and had been working to rearrange the protected apprehension of the person.
No accidents have been reported, however close by parking heaps and houses have been evacuated “out of an abundance of warning,” police say.
The Barrie police tactical assist unit is on scene, together with uniformed officers.
Karen Rogers mentioned she was within the plaza shortly earlier than midday together with her husband and her 84-year-old mom. Whereas she was in a retailer, her mom and husband remained of their automobile, which was parked not removed from the RV.
”Hastily all these cop vehicles got here out of nowhere, the SWAT staff, and every part, and surrounded them,” she instructed BarrieToday.
“They all jumped out of their cars and they took off down towards this RV … then a (was) shot fired,” Rogers added.
Her mom mentioned she heard what could have been a bullet hit a light-weight publish close to the place they had been parked, from a single shot they heard.
“And then they heard the cops yell ‘a shot, a shot’s been fired!’ and then they were saying somebody’s name and saying ‘you’re surrounded, come out of the vehicle with your hands up,’” Rogers mentioned.
The police instructed the barricaded particular person, whom Rogers described as a man, a couple of occasions that he was not going to be damage, she added.
After leaving the realm and returning residence, Rogers mentioned her mom had a shot of cognac to calm her nerves.
“When she thought that bullet appeared to ping proper off the pole, it type of put somewhat scare into them,” she mentioned.
Amanda White was additionally within the plaza on the time of the incident.
“I heard an officer tell a few others to go evacuate the houses behind FreshCo and the dollar store,” White instructed BarrieToday.
“An officer approached us to inform us we were in a dangerous spot because there was a shooter in the RV who has a gun that can shoot as far as where we were standing,” she added.
Karl Kennedy, who lives on Rosedale Place, behind the plaza, mentioned he noticed police working up and knocking on doorways round midday. He left his residence with little data or time to suppose.
“I heard loud bangs about 30 minutes before that, but I live near Bayfield Street, so I assumed it was trucks or car poppers,” he mentioned.
Kennedy mentioned the massive, white RV which is on the centre of the investigation has been parked there behind the plaza for a few week.
An worker who works in a retailer throughout Bayfield Avenue on the Kozlov Centre instructed BarrieToday the identical RV had been beforehand parked within the mall’s again lot.
In an up to date information launch at 6 p.m., Barrie police mentioned uniformed officers, the tactical assist unit and disaster negotiators stay on scene on Bayfield Avenue the place an individual was reported to be inside a car with a firearm.
Police say they are going to be remaining on scene “as long as needed, with the primary focus being on the safety of the community, the individual and the officers.”
BarrieToday will offered an replace as extra data turns into obtainable.
