October 18, 2022
Stabbing
RCMP Burnaby
On October 18, 2022 at approximately 11:00 AM, Constable Shaelyn (Tzu-Hsin) Yang was conducting a welfare check of a lone tent in a Burnaby Park. She became involved in an altercation when she was fatally stabbed by the lone occupant.
Cst. Yang, 31 years old, was part of the Burnaby RCMP’s mental health and homeless outreach team. She was partnered with a City of Burnaby Parks employee and they were attending to an individual camping in a tent at Broadview Park, located near Canada Way and Gilmore Avenue. The lone male did not respond to Cst. Yang yelling that they were there to check on him. The individual appeared to be unconscious and possibly overdosing. Cst. Yang entered the tent to administer naloxone. The male woke up and Cst. Yang became involved in an altercation. The male stabbed Cst. Yang in the chest. Cst. Yang managed to shoot the suspect before she lost consciousness. She was transported to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. The suspect was also transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Cst. Yang volunteered full-time with Richmond RCMP’s Victim Services unit before joining the RCMP in 2018. After graduation, she was posted to the Burnaby RCMP detachment where she was part of a team that handled homelessness and mental health issues.
Cst. Shaelyn Yang is survived by her partner. Our condolences go out to her partner, family, friends and colleagues. She will be remembered.