Death of mom in Surrey police shooting under coroner's investigation

It is not certain if there will be a coroner's inquest into the police shooting death of a Surrey mom.  In the early morning hours of Sept. 19, 2024, Surrey RCMP received a call about a "disturbance" at a home [https://www.surreynowleader.com/local-news/woman-dead-after-police-shooting-in-surrey-disturbance-7545746] in Cloverdale, in the 6200 block of 180A Street. Police say a woman, whom family later identified as Vanessa Renteria Valencia, had locked herself in the bathroom with her daughter and was allegedly holding a pair of scissors near the child. Less than an hour later, at about 5:30 a.m., an officer shot Vanessa, who died at the scene. In a public report released Friday, Sept. 26 [https://www.surreynowleader.com/local-news/breaking-no-charges-recommended-in-fatal-police-shooting-of-surrey-mom-8270782], the chief civilian director of the IIO, Jessica Berglund, stated, "I do not consider that there are reasonable grounds to believe that an officer may have committed an offence under any enactment and therefore the matter will not be referred to Crown counsel for consideration of charges." Black Press Media reached out to B.C.'s Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Nina Krieger, to see if she would call for a coroner's inquest into Vanessa's death.  "An investigation into the death of Vanessa Valencia is currently underway by the BC Coroners Service.  When the coroner’s investigation is completed, the matter will be reviewed by the chief coroner to determine whether to direct an inquest," Krieger said.  Black Press Media has reached out to the BC Corners Service but did not receive a response by press time.  A coroner's inquest is a formal court proceeding conducted by a presiding coroner before a jury that is publicly held to review the circumstances of how someone died. "An inquest can reveal information and/or gaps in services that, if addressed, may help prevent future deaths in similar circumstances," states the BC Coroners Service [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/birth-adoption-death-marriage-and-divorce/deaths/coroners-service/inquest/bccs_inquests_backgrounder.pdf] online. The jury will then make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances. However, the jury must not make any finding of legal responsibility or express any conclusion of law. The chief coroner can call for an inquest into a death if they believe "the public has an interest in being informed of the circumstances surrounding the death," or "the death resulted from a dangerous practice or circumstance, and similar deaths could be prevented if recommendations were made to the public or an authority." The minister can order an inquest if the coroner has not held one, and they are "satisfied that it is necessary or desirable in the public interest that an inquest be held."  The province has previously called for a coroner's inquest while other investigations were underway, including in the case of Surrey's Tori Dunn.  [https://www.surreynowleader.com/local-news/bc-orders-coroners-inquest-into-death-of-surreys-tori-dunn-7523936]B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, at the time, Mike Farnworth called one in September 2024.  On Thursday, Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko blasted the NDP government for its “failure to commit” [https://www.surreynowleader.com/home/surrey-cloverdale-mla-calling-for-inquest-into-death-of-chase-de-balinhard-8285811] to an inquest into the death of Cloverdale's 15-year-old Chase De Balinhard, which is denying the family “peace of mind and an opportunity for transparency.” -With file from Malin Jordan