B.C.’s police watchdog says officers acted lawfully in the Surrey teen shooting, citing a real-looking gun and urgent safety risks.
Watchdog Says Officers Acted Lawfully
The police watchdog in B.C. has ruled that officers did not commit any crime in the shooting death of 15-year-old Chase De Balinhard. The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) reviewed the case after the Surrey teen died on Feb. 9, 2025. His parents allowed the agency to share his name.
Call for Help Turns Urgent
Chase called 911 and said he wanted to end his life. He had autism and ADHD. Police and Car 67, the mental-health outreach team with a nurse on board, rushed to help. Yet the situation shifted fast. Chase held what looked like a real gun. Officers saw it and acted with extreme caution.
First Contact Breaks Down
An officer tried to greet Chase with a wave. He said he wanted to help. Chase told him to go away. Witnesses later said he looked blank and confused. Soon, he walked off. Another officer spotted the gun in his hand and ordered him to drop it. Chase ran.
Tense Foot Chase
Police followed him through the snow. Several witnesses said he never threatened them. Officers kept asking him to drop the gun. He did not respond. They said he pointed it at himself and then at them. Because of the distance, they could not use a Taser, pepper spray, or a police dog. They also could not talk to him in a calm way. Experts later said he may have been overwhelmed by noise and stress.
Final Moments
At 3:17 p.m., Chase turned the gun toward officers. Two officers fired at almost the same moment. One bullet struck him. Police tried to save him, and paramedics arrived. He died shortly after.
Why the Watchdog Cleared Officers
The IIO said the gun looked real. Officers believed he could harm himself or others. They also believed he could fire at them. Because of that, they focused on safety. They acted to prevent a threat to Chase, the public, and themselves. The agency said the officers were doing their duty. It also noted the growing need for better training when police interact with neurodivergent people.
A Tragic Ending
The encounter lasted more than 20 minutes. The watchdog called the death tragic. Still, it found no unreasonable force. It said the officers faced a real and immediate danger and acted within the law.
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