Two people arrested after the stabbing death of a 29-year-old man in Nanaimo’s Maffeo Sutton Park Monday night have been released without charges.
“This investigation is in the early stages and much needs to be done before police are in a positive position to forward charges to Crown counsel,” said Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien. “Investigators are aggressively pursuing this file and doing everything that is necessary to gather evidence and establish who is responsible for this homicide.”
A 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old youth were arrested after the 11:30 p.m. incident. A third person was identified and located.
Police said they do not believe there was any connection between the victim and his attackers. A friend of the victim was pepper-sprayed.
A witness told CHEK News she heard a commotion in the area, including screaming and yelling.
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog called the stabbing “horrific,” saying it’s part of an “unprecedented” string of violence in the city.
Anyone who was at the park Monday from 10:30 p.m. to midnight and saw what happened is asked to call police at 250-754-2345.
jbell@timescolonist.com
