Teenage boy fatally stabbed in Abbotsford, B.C., park

A teen boy is dead and two young people have been arrested after a fatal stabbing in an Abbotsford park.

A teenage boy is dead and a homicide investigation is now underway after a stabbing in Abbotsford Sunday night.

The violence unfolded inside a park in a normally quiet neighbourhood.

Abbotsford police were called to Larch Park after a report of a stabbing just after 7:30 p.m.

“Upon arrival, officers located a male youth suffering from critical, life-threatening injuries,” said Sgt. Paul Walker of the Abbotsford Police Department.

Despite attempts by both bystanders and first responders to help him, he did not survive.

Police say two youth suspects have been arrested nearby a short time later.

“Early indications suggest this incident to be targeted and not random,” said Walker.

The Abbotsford Police Department’s Major Crime Unit has launched an investigation and will be transitioning the case to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

“We have three families that are grieving and going through unimaginable changes in their lives, both from the family of the deceased, as you can imagine, as well as the two families of the suspects that have been arrested today, these type of incidents have far reaching impacts in any community,” said Walker.

Walker says it’s too soon to determine what the motive may have been.

“Like always, when we have incidents involving youth, whether it’s criminal, whether it’s bullying…we are always working through those channels with the youth, through our officers that are involved in our youth every day, from our youth squad, like I mentioned, from our high-risk youth officers, from our officers involved in our different intervention programs,” said Walker.

Walker was not able to say if or how the victims and suspects knew each other.

“There’s a lot of questions that I’m sure the public would like answers to that we are working through to find answers to. We’re very limited in cases like this, especially being a homicide investigation, but as well, where we have youth involved,” said Walker.

He said he wasn’t aware of which schools, if any, the teens were enrolled in.

The Abbotsford School District says it is aware of what it calls a “tragic incident” that occurred in the community involving local youth.

“Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this heartbreaking event,” it said in a statement.

“We know that events like this will have a profound impact on our community. As always, the well-being of our students and staff is our top priority, and district supports will be available for all who need them in the coming days,” said the statement.

“This is one of these unimaginable scenarios where these kids are going through now, they’re going to know people, friends and family are going to know these kids. The word on the street is going to start traveling,” said Walker.

He says the community has been deeply impacted.

“This was a nice Sunday evening. People were out in the community. People were walking on the sidewalks, using the park here behind me, and then all of a sudden, just after 7:30 p.m. numerous sirens, first responders showing up,” said Walker.

Anyone who was near Larch Park between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., or who may have dashcam footage from the area, is urged to contact the IHIT Infoline at 1-877- 551-4448.

Larch Park and the stretch of Beck Road in front of it are expected to be closed for several hours Monday as the investigation continues.