Canadian border guard shot near Vancouver

A Canadian border services officerwasshot and seriously woundedby a gunman who then fatallyturned his weapon on himself at the Peace Arch crossingsouth of Vancouver, police say.

Const. Bert Paquet said at an RCMP news conference thatthe female borderofficerwas breathing and conscious when airlifted to hospital. The RCMP saidlate Tuesday that her condition was "stable," but did not provide details.

Paquettold reporters that a man travelling alone in a white van with Washington licence plates pulled up to a kiosk and shot the border guard.

He said the suspect died from "what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound."

Video surveillance is being reviewed and witnesses are being interviewed, Paquet said.

LeAnn Dombrosky told CBC Newsshe was at the border crossing when the shooting occurred.

"I was the third car in the Nexus lane as this incident occurred at 1:51 p.m.," Dombrosky said in an email.

"There was a gunshot and sounds of a woman screaming which drew the attention of all the other guards. Then after about 10seconds, the guards were yelling to a man in awhite van in the far left lane (closest to the building) to put his hands upanother shot or two were fired in which the driver ofthe white van took his life with a bullet in his head."

Statements from safety minister, CBSA

Luc Portelance, President of the CBSA, issued a statement saying he had spoken with the regional director general in Vancouver "to express my support and to let her know my thoughts are with the officer and her family during this difficult time."

The statement added: "This is a profound reminder of the risks that border services officers assume every day. I know that the courage and dedication of our officers are second to none."

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews alsoissued a statement saying his thoughts and prayers go out to the officer's family and colleagues.

"I am deeply concerned by the news of the shooting today at the Peace Arch border crossing of a CBSA officer," Toews said."This event is a sobering reminder of the dangerous conditions faced daily by the men and women of our law enforcement agencies."

Trafficin both directions washalted afterthe incident occurred and would not be moving "for several hours," Paquet said.

The Peace Arch, officially called theDouglas crossing, about 40 kilometres south of Vancouver,is the third-busiestborder point between Canada and the U.S.

An average of 3,500 cars pass through the crossing on a slow day, and during peak periods about 4,800 vehicles will move through the border.

During those peak periods, border delays can reach four hours on either side of the border.