Publication date: Oct 19, 2022 • 10 minutes ago • 4 minutes read • 23 Comments Burnaby RCMP on scene after fatal stabbing of Const. Shaelyn Yang at Broadview Park in Burnaby. Photo by Nick Procaylo /PNG

Content of the article

As authorities announced Wednesday charges of first-degree murder against the man who allegedly killed Burnaby RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang, the case raises questions about how communities in B.C. manage the homeless crisis.

This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

Yang was stabbed to death Tuesday morning as she accompanied a City of Burnaby park worker who had been dispatched to a scene at Broadview Park off Canada Way to advise the passenger that they should move on. Start your day with a roundup of BC-focused news and opinion delivered straight to your inbox at 7am, Monday to Friday. By clicking the subscribe button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

Thanks for subscribing!

A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, check your spam folder. The next issue of Sunrise presented by the Vancouver Sun will be in your inbox soon. We encountered a problem with your registration. PLEASE try again

Content of the article

The Independent Investigations Office, which investigates deaths or serious injuries with police, said Young shot the man before he died. He was taken to hospital but is expected to survive. On Wednesday, the Prosecutor’s Office of BC said that charges of first-degree murder have been filed against Jongwon Ham. Court records show Hamm, 37, also faces an assault charge related to a March 17 incident in Vancouver. A warrant was issued for his arrest on Monday. Homicide investigators said Young was not at the park to serve the warrant and did not know if she knew about Hamm’s background. He died in hospital about 30 minutes after he was stabbed.

Advertising 3

This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

Ham has had run-ins with the police in the past. In February 2021, he was charged with assault and willfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer. Yang, who volunteered with victim services in Richmond before becoming a Mountie in 2019, was part of a Burnaby RCMP task force that takes the lead on homelessness and mental health issues for the department. Consisting of three officers, the team works with the Fraser Health Assertive Community Treatment team and “has frequent contact with their clients who are considered to be at high risk for violence,” said Burnaby RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Kalanj, who is a former member of the team. On Wednesday morning, police tape still surrounded the small orange tent, which had been pitched on the grass at the side of a sports field and was surrounded by a few pieces of trash and fallen leaves. A short distance away was a second tent, this one blue and emblazoned with the assassination squad logo.

Advertising 4

This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, a retired firefighter, said it’s common for park staff to join police to control people. The city is working to prevent homeless encampments by trying to house people or “relocate” them, he said. Hurley said the camps are known to be unsafe, but people often have nowhere to go. “We’re trying to move the tents as quickly as we can, but this is a real issue for every city in the Lower Mainland, if not Canada,” he said. “Unfortunately, many people live in our public spaces – far more than we, or the higher levels of government, are willing to admit.” Hurley, who was recognized in the recent municipal election as no one ran against him, said the city does not have control over health policy or the judiciary.

Advertising 5

This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

Young was well known to city staff, who remain shocked and “devastated” by her death, he said. “It’s really a horrible time for all of us.” Following an RCMP report, the city will likely review its own policies to determine if there is a better or safer way for city employees to conduct checks and respond to calls. The city will also take the lead from Yang’s family and the RCMP in how to honor and remember the fallen officer. In a statement posted on Twitter, the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby expressed its condolences to the Burnaby RCMP. “This has never happened before in our homeless population, as most of our most vulnerable neighbors are peaceful and non-violent,” he said. In Ottawa, the House of Commons observed a minute of silence in Young’s honor and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute. He told the House that mental health support needed to be stepped up so that the police were not the only provider to reach out to in many cases.

This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

BC Premier John Horgan called Young’s death a “horrible tragedy.” “An incident like this is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those working to keep our communities safe,” he said on Twitter. Surrey South MLA Elenore Sturko, a former RCMP officer, said at just 31, Yang had a lot more to give. “He paid the ultimate sacrifice,” she said. [email protected] — with files from David Carrigg, Katie DeRosa and Canadian Press Burnaby RCMP handcuffed a man after an officer was stabbed Tuesday morning. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG
More news, less ads: Our in-depth journalism is made possible by the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 a week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to the Vancouver Sun, The Province, the National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.

Watch: 7 Things to Know About the BC IIO

We apologize, but this video failed to load.

Share this article on your social network

This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourages all readers to share their views on our articles.  Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site.  We ask that you keep your comments relevant and respectful.  We’ve enabled email notifications—you’ll now receive an email if you get a reply to your comment, there’s an update on a comment thread you’re following, or if a user follows the comments.  Visit the Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.