{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. 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She hopes the inquest will lead to improved training for first responders.","category":"Politics","area":null,"publishedAt":"2026-11-10T21:25:25.832Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-11-09T20:40:36.896Z","updatedAt":"2026-11-10T21:25:25.832Z","readTime":"4 min read","scores":{"trust":42,"critic":60,"hype":15,"notes":{"trust":"Central claim attributed to named body, but no other corroboration or named sources.","critic":"Story is clear and holds together, but lacks quotes from anyone affected or opposed.","hype":"Headline is factual and does not overstate the article's content."}},"tags":["#PoliceShooting","#AutismAwareness","#Inquest","#Neurodiversity","#FirstResponders"],"entities":["Crystal De Balinhard","Chase De Balinhard","B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office","Dr. Patricia Frew","RCMP"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["Crystal De Balinhard testified at a coroner's inquest into the death of her 15-year-old son, Chase, who died on Feb. 9, 2025.","Chase De Balinhard had multiple developmental and medical conditions, including autism, ADHD, and a mild intellectual disability.","B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office previously concluded that officers' use of lethal force was legally justified.","De Balinhard stated her family's advocacy aims to improve training for first responders, not to oppose police."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Crystal De Balinhard testified at a coroner's inquest into the death of her 15-year-old son, Chase, who was shot by police on February 9, 2025. She told the inquest that she hopes his death will lead to improvements in how first responders communicate with neurodivergent people in crisis. De Balinhard described her son's medical and developmental challenges and acknowledged the difficult circumstances faced by the officers involved. She stated that her family's advocacy is focused on training, not on creating an opposition to police."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Chase De Balinhard had autism, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, XYY syndrome, a visual impairment, a heart condition, and a mild intellectual disability. His mother described him as funny, kind-hearted, and fond of practical jokes, superheroes, old movies, and vintage toys. He also had a passion for kayaking and dreamed of becoming a police officer like his grandfather. His family worked with professionals to develop coping strategies for when he became overwhelmed, which could include anger, swearing, or walking away. A written mental-health safety plan was in place, though it had not been updated to reflect changes in his counselling team."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Testimony from Dr. Patricia Frew, Chase's psychiatrist, detailed his mental health history, including chronic suicidal thoughts. Frew explained that many of Chase's statements about wanting to die occurred during periods of emotional distress, and he sometimes denied wanting to act on them. Previous clinical records described thoughts involving specific methods of dying, and during an April 2024 assessment, Chase described intrusive thoughts about going into traffic or being stabbed, responding that it was 'a bit of both' when asked if he wanted these things. Frew also recalled an incident where Chase made a comment about wanting to shoot up his school, which she believed was connected to bullying. The psychiatrist stated Chase was generally not assaultive toward others. His grandmother had raised concerns about a recent suicidal thought at his final psychiatric appointment on January 8, 2025."},{"type":"heading","text":"Disagreement on justification"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"B.C.'s Independent Investigations Office concluded that the officers' use of lethal force was legally justified, according to CTV News. Global News reported on the coroner's inquest into Chase De Balinhard's death, but did not include details about the IIO's findings in its digest."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the reports below mention the Independent Investigations Office's conclusion that the officers' use of lethal force was legally justified. The Global News digest did not include this detail."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"Caledonia Courier","url":"https://caledoniacourier.com/2026/11/09/mother-testifies-at-inquest-into-police-shooting-death-of-b-c-teen","headline":"Mother testifies at inquest into police shooting death of B.C. teen - Fort St. James Caledonia Courier","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-11-10T01:20:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Creston Valley Advance","url":"https://crestonvalleyadvance.ca/2026/11/09/mother-testifies-at-inquest-into-police-shooting-death-of-b-c-teen","headline":"Mother testifies at inquest into police shooting death of B.C. teen","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-11-10T01:20:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Grand Forks Gazette","url":"https://grandforksgazette.ca/2026/11/09/mother-testifies-at-inquest-into-police-shooting-death-of-b-c-teen","headline":"Mother testifies at inquest into police shooting death of B.C. teen","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-11-10T01:20:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Houston Today","url":"https://houston-today.com/2026/11/09/mother-testifies-at-inquest-into-police-shooting-death-of-b-c-teen","headline":"Mother testifies at inquest into police shooting death of B.C. teen","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-11-10T01:20:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Kitimat Northern Sentinel","url":"https://northernsentinel.com/2026/11/09/mother-testifies-at-inquest-into-police-shooting-death-of-b-c-teen","headline":"Mother testifies at inquest into police shooting death of B.C. teen - 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