Inquest begins into police shooting death of autistic B.C. teen Chase de Balinhard

An inquest into the death of Surrey teen Chase de Balinhard began on November 9 in Burnaby. The 15-year-old, who lived with autism and ADHD, was fatally shot by police in February 2025.

Chase left his home on February 9, 2025, carrying a pellet handgun. Minutes later, the Clayton teen called 911. Police shot him a short time afterward.

“Let's have something good come from this, please!”

The inquest follows a December 2025 report by British Columbia's Independent Investigations Office. The police watchdog found that the two officers who opened fire on the autistic teen were legally justified.

Unlike the watchdog investigation, the inquest does not examine criminal or civil liability. A jury will review the evidence and issue recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents.

Chase's mother, Crystal de Balinhard, testified first at the proceedings. She asked for more training for frontline workers who support children and young adults on the autism spectrum.

Crystal described her son as dysregulated or shut down before the shooting. She said she tried to reach him by phone and tracked his location to two spots near the shooting site.

She drove to the intersection of 70th and 185th but was stopped by a police officer. When she mentioned Chase's name, the officer's expression made her realize something was wrong.

Crystal quoted the officer as telling her to sit in her car. She said it felt like an eternity, perhaps two minutes, before another officer approached her.