Just before noon on December 30, 2024, a man disguised as a delivery driver entered a downtown luxury retailer and approached staff. He demanded they fill a box with luxury handbags, threatening to shoot them if they refused. When staff declined and contacted security, the suspect fled the store.
Ejiofor Louis, a loss prevention officer, responded to the call and followed the suspect outside. He was quickly joined by fellow loss prevention officer Aaron Wong, who was on the phone with 911 providing real-time updates.
When the suspect entered a truck parked in a nearby alley, Louis and Wong intervened to prevent him from leaving. During the struggle to remove him from the vehicle, the suspect repeatedly reached for a shotgun on the passenger seat, threatening to kill them.
Police arrived to find the suspect on the ground and in handcuffs, with two seized weapons nearby. A subsequent search of the truck revealed improvised explosive devices, as well as a fully loaded shotgun.
For their courage and decisive actions, placing themselves in harm’s way to prevent serious injury or loss of life, Mr. Ejiofor Louis and Mr. Aaron Wong were awarded the Vancouver Police Board’s highest award for civilian bravery, the Award of Merit.
