VANCOUVER Police are gathering evidence after a violent confrontation sent two people to hospital with life-threatening injuries Monday night.

“Several people called 9-1-1 around 7:30 p.m. yesterday to report that one man was attacking another outside and an apartment building near Spruce Street and West 12 Avenue,” said Sgt. Steve Addison on Tuesday. “One suspect had a sword and had reportedly crawled through the window of a ground-level apartment.”

VPD officers responded immediately, and arrived moments later. That’s when the 29-year-old suspect tried to run away from police. He jumped in front of an occupied vehicle and smashed the windshield, then continued running through traffic while officers gave chase.

“Our officers believed the suspect had committed a violent assault and was trying to harm himself,” said Addison. “When he refused police commands to stop, officers deployed a taser and beanbag shotgun rounds to stop the suspect and safely take him into custody.”

VPD officers provided emergency first aid to the suspect, who suffered life-threatening injuries during the initial altercation, prior to police arrival. Investigators are working to determine how those injuries occurred.

The suspect and the victim, a 59-year-old, were both taken to hospital. They are known to each other.

The incident is still under investigation and no charges have been laid. The Independent Investigations Office of BC was notified but is not investigating.