IIO clears officers in Surrey teen shooting
B.C.’s police watchdog has cleared Surrey RCMP officers in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old autistic boy earlier this year. The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) says there are no reasonable grounds to believe officers committed an offence during the 911 response in February.
The teen died after police confronted him in a residential area, where he was seen walking with what appeared to be a handgun. The incident has sparked strong emotions in Surrey, especially among advocates for neurodivergent youth.
22-minute standoff began with teen’s 911 call
The incident began on Feb. 9 when the teen himself called 911, saying he had a firearm and planned to harm himself. Officers located him in a heavily populated Surrey neighbourhood, where he was reportedly waving and pointing the weapon.
According to the IIO report, police tried for about 22 minutes to get him to comply. They say he pointed the apparent gun at officers several times and did not respond to repeated commands to drop it.
Replica firearm, real fear
After the shooting, investigators determined the weapon was a replica firearm, not a conventional gun. In the moment, however, officers believed it was real and capable of causing serious harm.
The watchdog found that less-lethal options, such as pepper spray, plastic bullets and Tasers, were not practical because of distance, movement and the way the teen was running and changing position. The report says the threat escalated in the final moments when the teen raised the replica weapon in what appeared to be a deliberate and threatening way.
Decision: force was justified but outcome tragic
The IIO concluded the officers were acting in the lawful execution of their duty and had objectively reasonable grounds to fear grievous bodily harm or death. Two officers fired almost at the same time, fatally injuring the teen.
Chief Civilian Director Jessica Berglund called the outcome “tragic and not desired by anyone,” but said the death was not the result of unjustified force. The decision means no criminal charges will be recommended against the officers involved.
Questions about mental health and policing
While the IIO ruling clears the officers legally, the case raises wider questions about how police respond to youth and neurodivergent people in crisis. Advocates have pointed to the teen’s autism and ADHD and are pushing for more specialized training, supports and non-police crisis options.
For many in Surrey, the case highlights the ongoing tension between public safety and mental-health care. The tragedy is likely to fuel calls for better crisis intervention, more community resources and deeper understanding of neurodivergent residents in high-stress encounters.
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