Warning: This story discusses intimate partner violence that may be triggering for some readers.

Advocacy groups and community organizations say the police shooting death of Vanessa Renteria Valencia in Surrey exposes how the system failed her on multiple fronts.

Representatives from Battered Women's Support Services, BC Community Alliance, BC Civil Liberties Association, BC General Employees Union, Surrey Women's Centre, Parents Support Services Society of BC, and Renteria Valencia's friends and family held a press conference in Surrey Thursday morning.

The group is calling for justice for Renteria Valencia and immediate action to "address this injustice and to ensure that no other families have to endure the same pain and loss," as a press release noted.

The 37-year-old woman died in her home in the early hours of the morning on Sept. 19. 

Surrey RCMP received a call about a "disturbance" at a residence in the 6200 block of 180A Street at about 4:40 a.m. on Sept.19, police say.

Staff Sgt. Kris Clark, a BC RCMP media relations officer, noted in a previous release that when police arrived, they learned that a woman had locked herself in a room with a toddler and was allegedly holding a weapon near the child.

"At approximately 5:30 a.m., while interacting with the woman, an officer fired their weapon striking her. Officers and Emergency Health Services, who were already outside of the residence, immediately provided medical assistance, but the woman died at the scene," Clark said.

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) was notified of the incident shortly after and started an investigation. 

The IIO is the independent civilian oversight agency of the police in British Columbia. It investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.

Advocacy group pushes back against 'well-worn narratives'

Angela Marie MacDougall, executive director of Battered Women's Support Services, said the police statement "was effective in dehumanizing Vanessa in the eyes of the public, playing into well-worn narratives of refugees and newcomers and of women and of Black people and of Afro-Latinas."

MacDougall noted the implication that Renteria Valencia was going to use the weapon to injure her child.

"At Battered Women's Support Services, we know that women living in abusive situations retreat to bedrooms, spare rooms, bathrooms with their children to establish a physical boundary between themselves and those they believe could do harm to them," she said. "We know that mothers will fiercely protect their right to mother their children in the context of familiar violence."

MacDougall said Renteria Valencia had, for at least two months, been staying in a temporary shelter but had recently left the shelter and returned to the home where she lived with her husband and brother-in-law.

Rosa Elena Arteaga, from Battered Women鈥檚 Support Services, spoke with Renteria Valencia鈥檚 sister, Sandra, the day after Vanessa鈥檚 death.

鈥淎s you can imagine, she was crying and in shock and telling me she was a good woman and a loving mother. I don't understand.鈥� Arteaga said. 

鈥淲hat we have heard is that Vanessa went to one of her friends' house and say that she wanted to leave, that she didn't feel safe,鈥� Arteaga said.

It is believed that Renteria went back to her home on Sept. 18 to retrieve some belongings, and when she did not return to her friend's home, the friend called the police to check on her, Arteaga said. 

The Surrey Now-Leader contacted the Surrey RCMP and IIO to confirm whether police had visited Renteria Valencia's residence in Cloverdale the day before she died. Both RCMP and the IIO said they were unable to comment as the investigation remains ongoing. 

Renteria 'so thankful' to be in Canada

The community groups painted a picture of a woman who was working hard to make a new life for herself in Canada.

Jane Bouey, executive director of the Parent Support Services Society of BC (PSS), said Renteria Valencia had recently reached out to the organization to join its parenting support group from Spanish language speakers.

鈥淪he wanted to volunteer with us to give back to the Canadian community, because she was so thankful to be here,鈥� Bouey said. 鈥淪he wanted to learn English, and she wanted to take training to become a facilitator in those very support groups she was about to join.鈥� 

Violeta Munoz-Berruecos, the volunteer recruitment and retention coordinator at PSS, met Renteria in early September when Renteria applied to volunteer at the organization's Grandparents Day event. 

Through tears, Munoz-Berruecos said Renteria had opened up to her about her struggles at home.

鈥淚 am here to ask for justice for her, but not just for Vanessa, because as a facilitator, I know there is a lot immigrant women who are not receiving the support from the system or the institutions that are working for women are full of calls, and we are tired of receiving calls because they are not safe in their houses and they don't have choice,鈥� she said. 

Nadia Revel贸 Bolivar, who is a member of the Colombian community and with the Solidarity Committee for Vanessa Renteria, is also calling for justice for Renteria. 

鈥淭he victim of this death is not just her; it's her family in Colombia and her child, and we want to have justice, and we are asking the authorities in Colombia to support the family and support the process and have a transparent investigation,鈥� Bolivar said. 鈥淲e are are sad, we are angry."

System 'too often fails women like her': BC Civil Liberties Association

Meghan McDermott, a lawyer and policy director with BC Civil Liberties Association, echoed the community's cry for justice and accountability. 

鈥淥ur hearts are with the people grieving this massive loss right now, and we also stand here today, seeking justice from a system that rarely, if ever, will deliver justice," McDermott said.

鈥淰anessa came to Canada, as you heard, in search of safety, opportunity and a better future, but instead, she found herself at the mercy of a system that too often fails women like her, migrants like her, Black people like her. In her final moments, Vanessa was in crisis. She needed help, understanding and compassion, but instead of receiving the care that any human being in distress deserves, she was met with force, with bullets.

鈥淭his was a moment that called for de-escalation, for patience and for humanity, yet the response was marked by violence, which only deepened the trauma for her family and for our community.鈥�

HELP FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

If you or someone you know needs help with an abusive home situation, resources are available:

SURREY WOMEN'S CENTRE

Surrey Women鈥檚 Centre is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to support women and girls facing gender-based violence and to help care for women and children escaping violence.

• info@surreywomenscentre.ca
• 604-589-1868

BATTERED WOMEN'S SUPPORT SERVICES

BWSS offers support and assistance for those in crisis, including community resources and referrals to transition houses, lawyers and medical services.

• Crisis Line at 604-687-1867 (Metro Vancouver) or toll-free, 1-855-687-1868
• Email: intake@bwss.org
• Website :