The investigation by British Columbia’s police oversight body concluded without recommending charges in the tragic police-involved shooting of Vanessa Rentería, a Colombian refugee, in Surrey last year.
The incident on Sept. 19, 2024, unfolded when law enforcement responded to a call reporting a disturbance at Rentería’s home. Upon arrival, officers discovered Rentería in the bathroom, holding scissors to her baby’s neck. Despite attempts to communicate with her in Spanish, a language barrier hindered the interaction, leading to an officer fatally shooting Rentería in an effort to protect the infant.
Chief civilian director Jessica Burglund of the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) defended the officer’s actions, stating that the use of force was necessary to safeguard the child from harm. The report highlighted the challenges posed by language differences during the confrontation, including resorting to Google Translate for communication.
Community organizations, such as the BC Civil Liberties Association and Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS), raised concerns about the handling of the situation, emphasizing Rentería’s identity as a mother and union activist seeking a better life in Canada. BWSS executive director Angela Marie MacDougall criticized the response, citing deficiencies in risk assessment, language-sensitive intervention, and trauma-informed de-escalation.
MacDougall condemned the focus on Rentería’s mental state as pathological rather than recognizing it as a consequence of violence and neglect. She emphasized the structural vulnerabilities faced by Rentería as a newcomer and a survivor of abuse, underscoring the need for a broader examination of policing and crisis response systems.
Despite calls for further accountability, Burglund confirmed that the case against the officer has been closed, leaving unanswered questions about the tragic outcome of the incident.