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Autistic Teen's Fatal Shooting Sparks Inquest
10 Nov
Summary
- Autistic teen Chase de Balinhard fatally shot by RCMP in Surrey.
- Inquest hears of pellet gun mistaken for handgun by police.
- Mother calls for improved autism training for first responders.
The mother of Chase de Balinhard, a 15-year-old autistic boy fatally shot by RCMP in Surrey on February 9, 2025, shared her grief at an inquest into his death. Crystal de Balinhard testified that her son struggled with multiple challenges, including autism and XYY syndrome. The confrontation occurred when police responded to a 911 call where Chase reported being armed and threatening self-harm.
During the incident, Chase was carrying a pellet gun that police mistook for a handgun. The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. reported that police attempted to apprehend him for 22 minutes before officers fired, hitting him with a single bullet. His mother emphasized the need for improved training for first responders to better understand and interact with individuals with autism.
De Balinhard described Chase as a kind and loving boy, despite his difficulties, which were exacerbated by a lack of adequate support in high school. She expressed her hope that lessons learned from this tragedy will lead to better protocols and prevent similar events in the future.
