Woman shot by B.C. police was Colombian refugee with young daughter, advocate says

Advocates have identified the woman who died this week after being shot by police in Surrey, B.C., as a South American refugee who was raising a young daughter.

Advocates have identified the woman who died this week after being shot by police in Surrey, B.C., as a South American refugee who was raising a young daughter.

Vanessa Renteria was from Buenaventura, Colombia, and had only been in Canada a short time prior to her confrontation with police early Thursday morning, according to Angela Marie MacDougall of Battered Women's Support Services.

She had already been approved for permanent residency and made friends in her community, where she attended a local church, said MacDougall, who has been in contact with the woman’s family since her death.

"People loved her. They said she was calm, nice, a wonderful mother," said MacDougall. "And like any hardworking mother, she was trying to establish herself in a new country."

Some who knew her were stunned to learn of the circumstances of her death.

Authorities said they responded to a report of a disturbance at a Cloverdale home around 4:40 a.m. Thursday, and that officers were told a woman had barricaded herself in a room, where she was "reportedly holding a weapon" near a toddler.

Less than an hour later, gunfire rang out in the neighbourhood.