Surrey: The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) on Monday said a 20-year old man has been arrested in relation to the stabbing death of 17 year-old Ethan Bespflug of Abbotsford.
The IHIT said on April 16, with the assistance of the Integrated Emergency Response Team, IHIT officers located and arrested 20-year old Kaiden Mintenko in relation to the homicide.
According to homicide investigators, the British Columbia Prosecution Service laid a charge of second degree murder against Mintenko, who remains in custody, on April 17.
“We would like to thank all members of the public who provided information that helped advance this investigation,” said Sergeant Timothy Pierotti of IHIT.
“Though we are still working to determine the exact nature of the relationship between the victim and the suspect and Mintenko, we can confirm that this was not a random attack,” he added.
On April 11 at 9:23 pm, Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a young man suffering from life threatening injuries resulting from a stabbing in the 9900 block of King George Boulevard.
The IHIT in a press release said Surrey RCMP officers, along with BC Emergency Health Services responded to the incident and provided the victim with emergency first aid.
Officials said sadly, the victim died as a result of his injuries shortly after being transported to hospital.
IHIT said it took conduct of the investigation and has been working closely in partnership with the Surrey RCMP Detachment, Metro Vancouver Transit Police, BC Coroners Service and the RCMP Integrated Forensic Identification Section to advance the investigation.