One year since Surrey mom's death and still waiting for answers

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

Friday marked a year since a Surrey mother was shot to death in her home by police, and her family is still awaiting answers as to what happened that morning.

In the early morning hours of Sept. 19, 2024, Surrey RCMP received a call about a "disturbance" at a home in Cloverdale, in the 6200 block of 180A Street.

Police say a woman, whom family later identified as Vanessa Renteria Valencia, had barricaded herself in a room with a toddler and was allegedly holding a weapon near the child. Less than an hour later, at about 5:30 a.m., an officer shot Vanessa, who died at the scene.

The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) — the independent civilian over