BC prosecutors decline to lay charges against Mounties who shot Jared Lowndes

The British Columbia Prosecution Service says it has decided not to lay charges against three Mounties involved in the July 2021 shooting death of Jared Lowndes in Campbell River.

The service says in a statement released Tuesday that the "available evidence" wouldn't suffice to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the three Campbell River RCMP officers "committed any offence" related to the 38-year-old man's death.

The service's overview of the case says an officer had stopped to look into a suspicious car that was parked near the city, and a query of the vehicle's licence plate turned up Lowndes's name and an outstanding arrest warrant.

The statement says Lowndes took off when the officer approached, then reversed his vehicle into the police car.

It says officers found the man at a Campbell River drive-thru, where he shot bear spray at them, he then stabbed the police dog they sent after him, which died of its injuries.

Lowndes was shot twice in the back and died at the scene, and though BC's Independent Investigations Office had suggested the service may want to consider manslaughter charges against one officer and assault charges against the others, the prosecution service says it would be unable to prove the force used was unreasonable or disproportionate.