Man dead, police officer seriously injured in Gatineau, Que.

Quebec’s police watchdog, the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI), is investigating after police in Gatineau, Que. shot and killed a man who allegedly stabbed an officer during an investigation.

Gatineau police (SPVG) officers were deployed to Saint-Rédempteur Street in the Hull sector shortly before midnight on Wednesday following a call to the emergency 911 centre.

Police say that during the investigation, a police officer was stabbed with a knife, suffering serious injuries.

“Police officers deployed to the scene had to intervene quickly to rescue their colleague,” police said in a statement. “The man was shot and died from his injuries.”

The officer was taken to hospital with serious injuries, “and is now out of danger,” according to police.

In a French statement Thursday afternoon, Gatineau police Chief Simon Fournier said the officer suffered “multiple lacerations” to his arms, shoulders and neck.

“Fortunately, the life of the patrol officer who was stabbed multiple times is not in danger,” Fournier said, adding the officer has been released from hospital.

“He was extremely lucky in the circumstances.”

A nearby resident described what they heard late Wednesday night on the Hull street.

“I just heard shots, and I thought it was just like fireworks or something,” Melane told CTV News Ottawa.

Police have closed Saint-Rédempteur Street is closed to traffic between Sacré-Coeur Boulevard and Mangin Street for a police investigation. (Adam Zuccala/CTV Morning Live)

“But then I went in this room, and I was seeing in through the windows of the other houses, and there was a lot of like policemen and like lights of police and ambulance and everything. And I was hearing a lot of noise, but I wasn't sure what it was. I wanted to go outside, but I was like, just in case, for my safety I'm just going to stay inside.”

Fournier did not provide any details about the 911 call or what happened at the scene.

“The death of a person, regardless of the context, is never desirable and remains a tragedy,” Fournier said.

“While we ourselves are shaken by the serious injury of a colleague, our thoughts are with the family of the individual who lost his life. Last night was a stark reminder that the work that police officers do, day after day, night after night, is not without risk. There is no such thing as a trivial intervention.”

BEI has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

A Gatineau police cruiser parked on Saint-Rédempteur Street in the Hull sector. Police say officers shot and killed a man after an officer was stabbed late Wednesday. (Adam Zuccala/CTV Morning Live)

“Since an independent investigation has been launched, the SPVG will not be able to communicate any information regarding the progress of the investigation as such, as well as the nature of the initial call,” police said.

A BEI spokesperson tells CTV News Ottawa five investigators have been assigned to the case.

“Given the circumstances of the event, the support services of a police force were required, namely the Sûreté du Québec,” the spokesperson said.

“A parallel criminal investigation into the events that occurred was entrusted to the Sûreté du Québec.”

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to contact the BEI. BEI is the independent investigations office that investigates police interventions.

Saint-Rédempteur Street is closed to traffic between Sacré-Coeur Boulevard and Mangin Street. A Gatineau police command post has been set up in the area.

Police say a crisis unit has been set up to provide the “necessary psychological support” to officers and civilian employees.

"A death is always a tragedy, and our thoughts go out to the loved ones of the deceased. I can say that it is a relieved that the injured police officer’s life is not in danger,” Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, mayor of Gatineau, said in a statement.

“I want to reassure the public, our citizens living in the neighbourhood, that this incident is an isolated case and their safety isn’t compromised. Our law enforcement officers continue to ensure the safety of the community with the utmost professionalism – they are, and will, remain active in the sector.”

With files from CTV News Ottawa's Katie Griffin

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