The B.C. Coroners Service (BCCS) has announced they will hold an inquest in the shooting death of Clayton Heights teen Chase de Balinhard.
In a Dec. 8 press release, BCCS announced the inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Chase de Balinhard will be held in the new year.
“A presiding coroner and a jury will hear evidence from witnesses under oath to determine the facts surrounding this death,” Holly Tally, BCCS communications manager wrote in the release. “The jury will have the opportunity to make recommendations (outlined below), though the jury must not make any finding of legal responsibility or express any conclusion of law.”
A coroner’s inquest is a “non-fault-finding” investigation.
“Under Section 18(2) of the Coroners Act, inquests are mandatory for any deaths that occur while a person was detained by or in the custody of a peace officer,” Tally added.
The inquest is public and serves three functions: 1.) to determine the facts related to a death, including the identity of the deceased and how, when, where and by what means the individual died, as well as a classification for the death; 2.) to make recommendations, where appropriate and supported by evidence, to prevent deaths in similar circumstances; and 3.) to ensure public confidence that the circumstances surrounding the death of an individual will not be overlooked, concealed or ignored.
A few days ago, on Dec. 4, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) released a report detailing a months-long investigation into the shooting death of the 15-year-old last Feb. 9 in Clayton Heights.
Chase, who lived with autism and ADHD, left his home Feb. 9 with a pellet handgun and within minutes called 911. The IIO revealed that 911 dispatch said Chase told them he had a gun and was going to kill himself. Chase also told the dispatcher that he was autistic.
The IIO report detailed Chase’s interaction with several RCMP officers, a nurse in Car 67 (the mental health unit), and other witnesses.
The investigation found that the two officers who opened fire on the autistic teen were legally justified. The report also noted none of the officers involved in the incident, including those who didn’t fire, were trained in how to deal with people who are “neurodivergent.”