Listen to this article
Dear 5 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated using text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.
WARNING: This story mentions suicide threats.
BC’s police watchdog says there are no reasonable grounds to believe an officer committed any crime in the shooting death of a 15-year-old in Surrey earlier this year.
BC’s Independent Investigations Office (IIO) was called in to investigate what happened after Chase De Balinhard was killed by police on February 9, 2025. Jessica Berglund, chief civilian director of the IIO, says the teen’s parents gave the agency permission to use his name.
According to the IIO report published on December 4, De Balinhard, who was autistic and suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, called the police and threatened to commit suicide.
Officers responded, along with Car 67, the police mental health unit that includes a mental health nurse, but when the teen pointed what appeared to be a gun at police, two officers shot him, the report says.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The IIO is called any time police are involved in a situation that results in death or serious harm in BC.
Schedule according to report
According to the report, when officers found the teen, he was sitting in the snow and had a realistic-looking gun. He had told the 911 operator that he didn’t trust the police.
The mental health nurse remained in the Car 67 vehicle concerned for her safety.
When the first officer approached De Balinhard, he told the IIO that he gave him a “big friendly wave” and told the teen that he was with the police and was there to help, to which the teen responded “something like [f–k] off,” the report says.
A few minutes later, according to the officer, De Balinhard began to walk away.
Another officer approached and was about 50 yards away when he saw the gun in the teen’s hand and told him to “drop the gun.”
De Balinhard then ran away, the officer said.
British Columbia’s police watchdog is investigating after a teenager was shot and killed during a confrontation with police in Surrey on Sunday. The head of the Office of Independent Investigations, Jessica Berglund, explains what that process is like and how they intend to improve police conduct.
The report says police followed the teen on foot.
According to the report, witnesses said De Balinhard had a “blank” expression on his face, while others said he seemed confused.
No one suggested he had threatened them directly.
The IIO said in its report that the teen did not drop his gun when police told him to, multiple times.
Officers said he pointed the gun at himself and the police. They also said they couldn’t get close enough to “establish a dialogue” with De Balinhard, or use something like pepper spray or a Taser.
An officer arrived with a police dog, but that officer said they couldn’t get close enough to use the dog either.
At 3:17 p.m., according to the report, the teen pointed the gun at police.
“Two officers fired their firearms almost simultaneously,” the report says. Balinhard was hit by a bullet.
Officers began attempting to save lives and paramedics were called. The teenager was pronounced dead shortly after.
The report notes that law enforcement agencies have recognized the need to be better informed when responding to neurodivergent people, including people like De Balinhard, who was autistic.
The IIO says the teen’s lack of response to police officers’ efforts to talk to him has been described by experts as “sensory overload.”
Because the teen pointed a realistic-looking gun at police and himself, the IIO says police focused on the appropriate response to what they considered a safety risk to the teen, the public and officers.
“The responding officers were acting in the lawful line of duty by attempting to detain the [teen]who was reasonably understood to be in possession of a loaded firearm and intended to harm himself with it in a public place,” the report reads.
The interaction lasted more than 20 minutes, according to the report.
“The outcome was tragic and unwanted by any of those interviewed in this investigation; however, the death was not the result of any unjustified use of force by any officer,” the report says.
If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where to look for help:
If you are concerned that someone you know may be at risk for suicide, you should talk to that person about it, says the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention. Here are some warning signs:
- Suicidal thoughts.
- Substance use.
- Lack of purpose.
- Anxiety.
- Feeling trapped.
- Hopelessness and helplessness.
- Withdrawal.
- Anger.
- Imprudence.
- Mood swings.
