THE Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC’s Chief Civilian Director Jessica Berglund on Wednesday in an update to Sunday’s police-involved shooting incident said: “At this time, I can confirm that the deceased person in this incident was a male youth.”

She added: “As is the case in all IIO investigations, our investigators are currently working to gather all available evidence and interviewing witnesses. As our investigation continues, I want to reiterate that the IIO has a responsibility to avoid releasing any information that could prejudice an investigation, contaminate witness memories, or unduly infringe on the privacy rights of an affected person.”

Berglund also noted: “Similarly, a critical component of this work is ensuring that information released by our office has been independently verified to the fullest extent possible before we confirm details publicly. This is particularly true in cases where a non-police weapon was involved in an incident. Identifying a particular type of weapon may be seen by some to suggest a conclusion to the issue of whether the police action was justified or not.  To avoid that perception, important details like the weapon type are held back until a full and complete investigation has been conducted. In some cases, it may be important to note that a weapon was present to give the public an accurate snapshot of the incident. Where possible, the IIO does not specify the weapon type until the role it may have played in an incident has been investigated.”

She added: “We appreciate the community and public’s patience while we ensure our investigation is conducted thoroughly, fairly, and to the highest standard possible.”

The IIO investigation into the incident continues. The BC Coroners Service’s independent investigation into the death is also underway.

AS reported in The VOICE, the BC RCMP announced on Sunday that it had notified the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO BC) of an incident in Surrey where a person has died.

On Monday, news reports identified the victim as a 15-year-old student from Clayton Heights Secondary School. Surrey Schools said counsellors would be at the school to support staff, students and the community.

Police said that on Sunday, February 9 at approximately 2:39 p.m., they received a call that a person was in distress and reportedly armed with a firearm in a schoolyard in the area of the 7000-block of 188 Street.

Police officers from the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (SPOSU) attended and located the person.

Police said that after an extensive interaction, shots were fired in the area of 185 Street and 70 Avenue. BC Emergency Health Services (EHS) that was present nearby was immediately called in to attend and provide medical care, however, the person has died. No one else was injured during this interaction.

The IIO BC was notified and the area was cordoned off in order to support the investigation.

The IIO BC said that it was notified shortly after the incident occurred and had begun an investigation. Initial investigative steps will seek to determine if police actions were necessary, reasonable, and proportionate in the circumstances.

The IIO BC is requesting that anyone who saw or who has video footage of the incident to contact it at its Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on the iiobc.ca website.