A man who engaged in a shootout with police in northern British Columbia has been sentenced to eight years in prison, according to authorities.
Tyler Cavan Suel pleaded guilty on Oct. 27 to discharging a firearm with intent to wound or disfigure following an exchange of gunfire with Mounties in Prince George last year, the RCMP announced Monday.
In addition to the prison term, Suel was sentenced to a 10-year firearms prohibition and a DNA order.
According to investigators, officers with the provincial anti-gang police unit encountered Suel in a vehicle on the evening of May 27, 2025, while conducting “proactive patrols” on East Perry Road.
They allege the 39-year-old exited his vehicle and fired a gun at police before fleeing the rural area.
Officers caught up with Suel again on a forest service road in the Tabor-Ferndale area, where he was injured and arrested following a shootout with police.
“The suspect was taken into custody, provided with first aid and transported to hospital with injuries initially believed to be serious,” the RCMP said in a news release.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. investigated the police-involved shooting and concluded three days later that Suel’s injuries did not meet the threshold of “serious harm” as defined by the provincial Police Act.
Suel was ultimately charged with four counts of discharging a firearm with intent and one count each of pointing a firearm, careless use of a firearm, possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, possession of a weapon and flight from a peace officer.
“Discharging a firearm at police officers puts not only the lives of those officers at risk, but also the safety of the surrounding community,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, spokesperson for the North District B.C. RCMP, in a statement Monday.
“This case demonstrates the dangers our officers can face while carrying out proactive enforcement activities,” Cooper added. “We are grateful that no officers were injured and appreciate the investigative work that brought this matter before the courts.”