Fundraiser mourns neurodivergent boy shot by police at Surrey school | Daily Hive

GoFundMe | Koshiro K/Shutterstock

A GoFundMe has been started to raise funds for the family of a Surrey teen who was killed during a police response at an elementary school Sunday.

On February 9, officers responded to reports of a person with a weapon at an elementary school in the 7000 block of 188th Street.

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) told Daily Hive that a subsequent interaction between police officers from the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit and the shooting victim occurred near the intersection of 70th Avenue and 185th Street.

Police fired shots, and a high school student sustained a gunshot-related injury. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The teenager’s cousin identified him as 15-year-old Chase De Balinhard and launched a fundraiser to help the family in “this extremely rough time.” Daily Hive also confirmed with the Surrey Schools District that the victim was a student at Clayton Heights Secondary.

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“For our family, Chase was a son, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin and a loyal friend,” wrote the organizer Alexis Butchart in the GoFundMe. “He is missed by so many. This travesty has shook our family to the core, any help would be appreciated.

“I’m setting this up for my aunt and uncle to help pay for funeral expenses. He was on the spectrum and was a very loving and caring boy. He didn’t deserve this. This is a very hard time for our family. Anything helps. Thank you for taking the time.”

More than $22,000 has been raised as of press time. Daily Hive has reached out to the family of Chase De Balinhard and will update this story.

GoFundMe

Shortly after the incident, the IIO was notified, and an investigation began.

“Initial investigative steps will seek to determine if police actions were necessary, reasonable, and proportionate in the circumstances.”

The IIO is asking any member of the public who saw the incident or has video footage of it to contact its Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477. You can also contact them via the iiobc.ca website.

AutismBC, a non-profit that supports the autism community throughout the province, is also speaking out about the incident.

“AutismBC extends our deepest sympathies to the family of 15-year-old Chase, who lost his life this week in a tragic incident,” said AutismBC in a release. “We recognize that Chase’s family and friends and our community are in deep mourning, experiencing a range of emotions, including anger, confusion, and a profound need for comfort and security. We understand the fear and worry many in our community feel about whether police and emergency responders know how to interact with autistic individuals safely.

“We strongly advocate for trauma-informed care to support our community, and this profound loss has amplified the urgency for action among our partner groups.”

With files from Amir Ali