Homicide detectives have been called in after a 15-year-old boy died from injuries sustained in a group assault early Saturday.
Police have identified the victim as Dario Bartoli. Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pound, a spokeswoman for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, tweeted shortly after 4 p.m. that there was no new information. She said investigators are canvassing for witnesses.
Surrey RCMP received a report that a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old boy were assaulted shortly after 2:30 a.m. by a group of five other people and then fled to a residence in the 15600-block of 18th Avenue.
Surrey Insp. Bruce Stuart says Bartoli suffered critical injuries and was taken to Peace Arch Hospital, where he died shortly before 10:30 a.m.
The 14-year-old suffered minor injuries.
In Surrey on Saturday, investigators cordoned off a wooded section on the southwest side of Bakerview Park at 154th and 18th Avenue. Police evidence markers were set up on several bottles of beer that had been discarded on the ground in the park. Nearby, children played at a playground.
The house where the injured teens fled is about three blocks east of the cordoned off section of the park. It’s unknown at this time whether the boys were being chased when they ran to the residence.
Stuart says the Surrey RCMP will work with the IHIT, which has taken over the case.
He says the motive at this time is unclear, and the priority is to speak with witnesses to determine what led to this homicide.
Bartoli's parents have been notified and Surrey RCMP victim services is speaking with the family.
This is Surrey’s 16th homicide of the year.
