Charges have now been laid in yesterday’s shooting of a 52-year-old man on Davie Street near Marinaside Crescent.

Shortly after 11:00 a.m., the victim was out front of the Starbucks on Davie Street when he was approached and shot. Police officers happened to be nearby, challenged the alleged shooter and exchanged several shots.

The man fled on a bike along the seawall, pursued by police. Dozens of officers flooded the area and found the suspect on the sea wall at Science World. A second exchange of gun fire occurred. The suspect was shot and one police officer received minor injuries from flying glass when the window of her police car was shot out.

Sixty-one-year-old Gerald Mark Battersby has been charged with six counts of attempted murder. Those charges are related to the shooting victim on Davie Street and five police officers. He is also charged with four firearms offences. Battersby is a former employee of the victim. He remains in hospital under guard.

The victim’s condition is unchanged. He remains in hospital in stable but critical condition.

“Our thoughts are with the victim, his family and his friends,” says VPD Acting Chief Constable Doug LePard. “Our focus will now be on completing a thorough investigation to provide Crown with the best evidence to support the charges.”

Investigators have spoken to more than 100 witnesses, but have been unable to confirm where Gerald Battersby was living. Anyone with information about the accused, those with photos or video to provide police, and those who witnessed yesterday’s incident and have not yet spoken to police are asked to call the VPD Major Crime Section at (604) 717-2541 or by e-mail at robbery@vpd.ca.