Burnaby RCMP observes third anniversary of death of Const. Shaelyn Yang
Posted October 18, 2025 4:19 pm.
Last Updated October 18, 2025 4:22 pm.
The Burnaby RCMP released a statement Saturday to observe the third anniversary of the death of Const. Shaelyn Yang.
Yang died in the line of duty Oct. 18, 2022, after being stabbed during an altercation while trying to help Burnaby city workers evict an unhoused man living in a tent in Broadview Park.
“We honour her legacy of compassion, courage, and dedication to helping others,” the RCMP said.
“Our thoughts are with her family, friends, colleagues, and all those who knew and loved her.”
Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko also observed the anniversary, saying more action is needed to address the mental health crisis in B.C.
“Const. Yang was a compassionate person who wanted to help vulnerable people, particularly those with mental health issues,” said Sturko.
“Her murder should have been a wake-up call for this government, but in the three years since her death, very little progress has been made, and many more British Columbians have died or had life-altering injuries resulting from failures in the mental healthcare system.”
Yang lived in Richmond and started her career working as a volunteer part-time with Richmond RCMP’s Victim Services before becoming a police officer in 2019, according to a statement from BC RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald issued on the day she was killed.
Jongwon Ham was charged with first-degree murder one day after Yang’s death.
