Home / Crime and Justice / Teen shot by police had replica gun, inquest announced
Teen shot by police had replica gun, inquest announced
9 Dec
Summary
- A 15-year-old boy with autism died in a police shooting.
- Police responded to a call about the teen threatening suicide.
- An inquest will investigate the fatal incident next year.
An inquest is scheduled to commence next year, concerning the fatal police shooting of a 15-year-old boy in Surrey. The announcement comes after the province's Independent Investigations Office concluded its review, clearing the involved RCMP officers. The incident occurred on February 9th when police responded to a 911 call from the teen, who stated he had a firearm and was threatening self-harm.
The Independent Investigations Office report indicated the youth, Chase de Balinhard, had autism and ADHD and expressed distrust towards police. Officers, including mental health professionals, were dispatched. The report stated that two officers fired at the teen when he pointed what they perceived to be a gun, which was later found to be a replica.
The coroner's inquest aims to establish facts surrounding the death and issue recommendations to prevent future occurrences, though it does not assign blame. Such inquiries are mandatory when a death involves law enforcement custody, ensuring public confidence in the investigative process.
