A local anti-violence organization is condemning the police actions that led to a young Afro-Latina mother's death in Cloverdale earlier this week.

性视界传媒 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 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 37-year-old woman has been identified by the , as Vanessa Renteria Valencia. The union, on social media, is calling for an investigation into her death and sending condolences to her loved ones. Renteria was a union member and activist when she worked at the port of Buenaventura in Colombia. 

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's body back to Colombia.  The family is also calling for an "impartial and fair investigation." 

"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. 

The letter notes that Renteria Valencia sought asylum in Canada in 2022 as she was fleeing the violence in Buenaventura.

"Vanessa, fleeing violence and with the desire to give her daughter a better future, ended up shot in front of her. This is a clear example of a new generation that suffers the physical and structural violence of a racist, classist and misogynistic global system," the letter reads. 

In a letter , the Battered Women's Support Services said the young mother's friends described her as "calm, kind, caring."

"Many commented on her as a mother, describing her as a wonderful mother who would never harm her one-and-half year old," reads the letter.

The society said it joins Renteria Valencia's friends and family in their concerns surrounding her death.

"It is unacceptable that the RCMP would use lethal violence with a young mother barricaded with her child when they are trained to use the least lethal option when dealing with difficult situations," the letter reads.

Renteria Valencia spoke Spanish, and advocates are asking whether the RCMP had an interpreter onsite or if the commands were given in Spanish.

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.

The 性视界传媒 RCMP said any questions about the incident should be directed to the IIO.

As the investigation is in its early stages, an IIO spokesperson said in an email to the Now-Leader that, "there are no further details I can provide at this time beyond what is in our media release."

The IIO could not confirm that Renteria Valencia was the victim, citing legislation that prohibits them from doing so except in rare cases.

Citywide Christ Church in Whalley, where Renteria Valencia and her family attended, had a special service during their regular service time on Sunday (Sept. 22) to grieve her death.

The church's pastor, Gastor Ntabaza, 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," Ntabaza said during Sunday's service.  

She would often show up hours before a Sunday service to pray in the church. "It was just at the point of saying, Vanessa, you need a church key so you can just come and soak your heart," Ntabaza said. 

"When she is praying, the little child will not move; the child will just be close to Mama." 

Ntabaza last heard from Renteria Valencia via text at around 11 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 18). "From 11 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., something happened," he said.