Friends of the Afro-Latina mother who was shot dead by police in Cloverdale Thursday (Sept. 19) have created r with all proceeds going to her 18-month-old daughter, travel expenses for her family, funeral arrangements and the family's quest for justice.
The 37-year-old woman, Vanessa Renteria Valencia, died in her home in the early hours of the morning.
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.
Veronica Callisaya, the fundraiser organizer, stated, "Vanessa was the most caring person who always put others first and loved her family more than words could express. This tragedy has devastated family, friends, church and community."
The fundraiser aims to raise $20,000. By late afternoon Tuesday, over 49 people had donated $2,425.
Sandra Renteria, Vanessa's sister,the Colombian government and the Colombian Consulate in Vancouver for assistance in obtaining a visa for family members to travel to Canada and in repatriating Renteria Valencia's body back to Colombia. The family is also calling for an "impartial and fair investigation" into her death.
"We have also received information indicating that Vanesa was seeking support to find a stable place to live alone with her daughter," reads the letter.
Citywide Christ Church in Whalley, where Renteria Valencia and her family attended, described Renteria Valencia as an amazing woman.
"Anytime I saw Vanessa, it was with her baby. There is no way you can speak about Vanessa if you don't see the baby. That is Vanessa," pastor Gastor Ntabaza said during a service held for Renteria on Sunday afternoon.
