A tragic incident occurred in British Columbia on Sunday, as a woman was shot by police in the city of New Westminster. According to an advocate, the woman was a Colombian refugee and had a young daughter.
The shooting took place in the early hours of Sunday morning, when police responded to a call about a disturbance at a residential building. The woman, who has not been identified, was reportedly wielding a weapon and refused to comply with police orders.
In a statement, the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of BC confirmed that the woman was shot by police and later died in hospital. The IIO is now investigating the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
According to the woman’s advocate, she had fled to Canada from Colombia with her young daughter to seek refuge from violence and persecution. The woman’s daughter was reportedly present during the shooting and is now in the care of family members.
The advocate also stated that the woman had been struggling with mental health issues and had reached out for help, but was unable to access the support she needed. The tragic outcome of this incident has raised questions about the availability and accessibility of mental health resources for refugees and immigrants in Canada.
The IIO has stated that they will be conducting a thorough and independent investigation into the shooting, and are asking anyone with information or video footage of the incident to come forward.
This tragic event serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing mental health issues and providing support for vulnerable populations, such as refugees and immigrants. Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the woman who lost her life in this tragic incident.
