Shots were fired and a wanted man is dead after a standoff in Maple Ridge Wednesday.

Angus David Mitchell, 26, was taken alive to hospital by air ambulance, according to Ridge Meadows Supt. Dave Walsh.

However, a short time later, police announced Mitchell had died.

RCMP had released an urgent alert on Wednesday morning, warning the public that Mitchell was wanted in connection with the attempted murder of his former landlord, a 51-year-old Burnaby man shot on Tuesday in front of his home in the 4400 block of Gilpin Crescent in Burnaby.

The landlord survived the shooting, but was reportedly in hospital in serious condition.

Mitchell, a former security guard not previously known to police, was also named as a person of interest in a May 27 double homicide inside a sushi restaurant in Burnaby. A motive for those homicides has not been established, police say.

Mounties announced at a press conference Wednesday morning that Mitchell was believed to be in possession of a high-powered Mossberg Maverick rifle with a scope, and that he was considered emotionally unstable.

"Within less than one hour of putting out that news release, the Ridge Meadows RCMP received a tip from a member of the public who spotted the green Aerostar van that is associated with Angus Mitchell on this street in Maple Ridge, on 216th, just after 10 a.m.," said RCMP Insp. Tim Shields, who spoke with media about one kilometre south of the area in which Mitchell was shot.

Mitchell's van was located at 216th Street, just north of 132nd Avenue.

"Our plainclothes members set up surveillance on the vehicle and then called in the assistance of the Lower Mainland RCMP emergency response team (ERT), along with police service dogs section, as well as Air One," Walsh explained.

ERT arrived and attempted to bring Mitchell into custody, gunfire was exchanged, Walsh said.

"I can tell you that the suspect was alive when he left the scene, however his condition is considered grave," the local top cop announced to media in a scrum just outside the yellow police tape.

Walsh added that he was pleased no officers had been injured.

Police seized a rifle from the scene. As per RCMP policy, and as a commitment to accountability and transparency, Vancouver Police Department will be taking on the investigation of the RCMP-involved shooting.

smclaren@mrtimes.com