Police officers will not be charged after fatal shooting of Surrey teen, says IIO; ‘Heartbroken’ family responds

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC says the police officers involved in the fatal shooting of an autistic teenager in Surrey earlier this year have been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 9, the 15-year-old called 911, saying he had a revolver and threatening to harm himself. During the call, he mentioned that he was autistic. Members from both the Surrey Police Service (SPS) and the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (SPOSU) responded to the scene.

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When they arrived, the teen pointed a weapon at the officers several times, B.C.’s police watchdog says. He also pointed it at his own head. Police say they ordered him to drop the weapon on multiple occasions.

After a standoff that lasted more than 20 minutes, two officers fired shots and one killed the boy.

The boy’s handgun was later discovered to be a “realistic-looking replica,” the IIO says.

Police were acting “in the lawful execution of their duty” in apprehending the teen, who was “reasonably understood to be in possession of a loaded firearm and intending to harm himself with it in a public place,” the investigation found.

“His behaviour when approached, walking through a heavily populated residential area waving and pointing the weapon, gave rise to significant concerns for the safety of officers and the public,” the IIO said.

“It was necessary to bring the [boy] under control and to disarm him, including using what force was reasonably necessary for that person.”

In February, the SPOSU said the incident happened in a schoolyard near 188th Street and 70th Avenue, and the local school district said the boy was a student of Clayton Heights Secondary School.

The IIO says no mandatory Autism Spectrum Disorder-related (ASD) training is provided to police in B.C., but there are educational resources available.

Victim’s family responds

Following the IIO’s report, the victim’s family issued a reaction statement Thursday, claiming it’s left them “heartbroken.”

“While we respect the IIO’s work, the report itself makes painfully clear that Chase’s final moments were shaped by confusion, sensory overload, and his inability because of his autism to respond in the ways police expected,” said the statement, credited to Rick and Crystal de Balinhard.

It says his actions should not have been interpreted as defiance or threat, but rather “visible signs of an autistic teenager in shutdown, overwhelmed by shouted commands and approaching strangers.”

The family says the officers were not properly trained or equipped to adapt to Chase’s neurodivergent needs.

A coroner’s inquest into the incident will be held next year.

The de Balinhards say they look forward to the inquest and its recommendations.

“We urge that it deliver real, enforceable change, mandatory, autism-informed crisis training for every officer in British Columbia so that no other neurodivergent child is met with lethal force when what they need is understanding and time.”

— With files from Charlie Carey and Cecilia Hua.