Officers Found Justified in Use of Force
On December 4, 2025 the IIO concluded its investigation into the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old boy in Surrey. The watchdog found there is no reasonable basis to charge the officers involved or consider their actions criminal.
The boy died February 9, 2025, after officers from the Surrey Police Service and the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit responded to a 911 call. The teen had reported that he had a gun and threatened to harm himself.
What the Report Found: The Lead-Up to the Shooting
According to the IIO report, the teen repeatedly pointed what appeared to be a revolver at police and at himself. Officers issued repeated warnings to drop the weapon. After about 20 minutes of attempts to de-escalate, two officers fired, believing there was an imminent risk to public safety and to themselves.
Investigators later determined the firearm was a realistic-looking replica. But at the time of the incident, officers reasonably believed it was loaded and functional.
The report determined that less-lethal alternatives such as pepper spray, Tasers or plastic bullets were not viable given the teen’s movement and distance. Under those circumstances, the use of lethal force was judged lawful.
Family Reacts Calls for Autism-Aware Crisis Training
The teen’s family released a statement expressing heartbreak. They wrote that their son’s behaviour reflected his autism and sensory overload. They argued that officers lacked the training needed to respond appropriately to a neurodivergent youth in crisis.
They called on authorities to ensure mandatory neurodiversity-informed crisis intervention training for all officers, so that no other family endures such a loss.
Broader Implications Crisis Response, Mental Health, and Police Practice
While the IIO says the officers acted lawfully, the case has renewed concern over how police respond to individuals with mental-health or developmental conditions. Advocates say this tragedy highlights the need for alternate crisis-response options and specialized training when neurodivergent individuals are involved.
The IIO’s report will not be forwarded to the prosecution service. Instead a coroner’s inquest is expected to follow, which may make recommendations for change.
What Happens Next
A public inquest will now review the shooting, examine what happened and consider whether police practices or systemic changes are needed. In the meantime calls for improved mental-health response systems continue to grow, especially for neurodivergent youth in crisis.
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