Teen Stabbed to Death on Surrey, BC, Transit; 2nd Stabbing Attack This Month

Police officers and paramedics attend the scene of a stabbing on board a transit bus in Surrey, B.C., on April 1, 2023. Shane MacKichan/The Canadian Press

A 17-year-old male was stabbed to death on a Surrey, British Columbia, public transit bus, prompting RCMP to say they will increase transit patrols.

Surrey RCMP reported that the youth was stabbed on April 11, just before 9:30 p.m. local time, after an altercation with another individual on the bus near the King George SkyTrain station. The victim was transported to hospital but died of his injuries, said the police homicide team.

The victim’s aunt, Daphni Miller, identified the boy as Ethan Bespflug in a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe, which has raised over $10,000 for the cost of a funeral and expenses for the family. She said he had just turned 17 years old.

“He had so much life ahead of him, a good kid, a kind kid a loving brother, son, grandson, uncle, friend, he always helped with his siblings always told his family how much he loves us, he would give the shirt off his back to anyone that needed it,” said Miller.

The family is lost for words, she said.

Police said the stabbing appeared to be “targeted” and was an isolated incident. Police are searching for witnesses who might have witnessed the knife attack. Police are still searching for a suspect.

Second Attack

Police said they will be increasing their patrols at transit stations. This latest attack follows one on April 1, also in Surrey, B.C., in which a man had his throat slashed with a knife while on a public bus. He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police said the suspect is in custody, but allegedly took out the knife and slashed the passenger before being arrested at the scene by RCMP and transit police.

Abdul Aziz Kawam is to appear in court on April 14, charged with attempted murder, assault causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, and assault with a weapon. Police said this particular attack was in association with the ISIS terrorist group.

There are no indications that the two stabbings are related, according to officers. Police said in an April 12 news release that they are currently investigating and will not provide further information at this time.

They did state that they do not believe the stabbing has any connection “to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.”

According to Surrey RCMP media spokesperson Vanessa Munn, who spoke at a news conference on April 12, overall crime in Surrey is down 14 percent. She said that Surrey RCMP and Metro Vancouver Transit Police will address the possible fear in the community by increasing patrols at transit sites indefinitely.

Transit Safety

B.C. Premier David Eby said that the teen’s death was “horrific news” and announced a government plan to deal with repeat violent offenders in the community.

The premier said the province will ask transit authorities and police if more resources are required to address public transit safety, and asked any member of the public with information or video footage to contact police.

“This is a profoundly concerning incident,” said Eby. “It is absolutely vital that people be able to get to work, school, and to do fun things around the community on transit and not have concerns about their safety when doing so. That’s a goal that we have and that’s something that all British Columbians deserve.”

Police are still searching for the victim of a knife attack on April 10, in which an individual was attacked at the New Westminster Columbia SkyTrain Station. The victim was treated in hospital, but police did not give further details. They are looking for two men and a female teenager.

Also on April 10, Metro Vancouver Transit Police reported using a taser on a man pushing passengers in Burnaby, at Lougheed Station, on the Millennium SkyTrain Line.

The man was confronted by police, and allegedly pulled out a knife and slashed at a police officer’s jacket. One officer fired his gun but did not hit the suspect, who was arrested.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.