A tense situation continues near the Starlight Casino in the Queensborough landing area of New Westminster.
Just over three hours after this incident began, New Westminster Police have just briefed the media for the first time.
Inspector Phil Eastwood says the standoff began just before 6am after Starlight Casino staff noticed a man with a gun in the parking lot.
"What I can tell you in terms of the general situation-we have a single male who is outside the Casino building in an area that is basically cordoned off with the Emergency Response Team. We have negotiators in place that I believe that are in communication with him and we are just waiting for that situation to resolve itself as safely as we possibly can. ANYBODY STILL INSIDE THE CASINO - ARE THEY ARE BEING KEPT INSIDE? They are all being kept inside, I can't tell you how many people, but I know that obviously the business was up and running when this started so that if anyone is inside they would have been held there for their own safety. EARLY REPORTS SUGGESTING SOME SHOTS MAY HAVE BEEN FIRED? I can't confirm that at all. THIS IS NOT A HOSTAGE TAKING SITUATION? It is not a hostage situation at all, one male with what we believe is a handgun outside the building with police resources around him."
Now the other part to this story is the traffic situation.
It's having quite an impact on morning commuters.
Highway 91-A is blocked completely right now so that means no access to the Queensborough Bridge north or southbound.
