The mother of a teenager stabbed to death on a bus in Surrey, British Columbia, says she hopes her son’s death will make a difference.
Holly Indridson said that while she thinks there needs to be more police and security on buses, the public also needs to be more aware of what to do.
“If you see these types of behaviors happening, don’t film them … call the police,” she said in an interview Tuesday.
Teachers and other members of the public who see violent children should refer them for help, she said.
“There’s no reason for people to do these types of things,” she said of her son’s murder.
Indridson said her 17-year-old son, Ethan Bespflug, did not know the man who attacked him, but did know the woman who was with the attacker.
Her request comes as premiers across the country are scheduled to meet Friday with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police to discuss a spate of recent violence across Canada.
With regard to Canadian border crossings in particular, there have been violent attacks in the Metro Vancouver area, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Toronto over the past few weeks.
Bespflug was stabbed last week near the King George Skytrain station in Surrey, British Columbia
Kaiden Mintenko, 20, of the neighboring Burnaby suburb, was charged with second-degree murder.
Investigators are still working to determine the exact nature of the relationship between the two men, but the attack was not random, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said at a news conference Monday.
They said Bespflug and Mintenko met “through a third party” and investigators are working to determine a motive.
A spokesman for the homicide squad said on Tuesday he could not comment on evidence gathered or future investigative steps because the case was in court and under a publication embargo.
Indreson said it was good to know that someone was detained after her son’s death.
“It’s a bittersweet thing,” she said. “It’s not going to bring him back, but at least some justice will appear.”
Indridson said she has had the support of the community since Bespflug was killed.
“‘That was the only thing that really got me through this time. It was just supporting and keeping his memory alive and showing who he is,'” she said.
Violence on public transit has sparked intense debate in the B.C. legislature following Bespflug’s death.
“It’s time for this government to recognize that with their crime-fighting policies, their judicial revolving door goes beyond the courts,” said Elenore Sturko, mental health and addictions critic for the BC United Opposition.
Sturko said many people in Metro Vancouver are afraid to use public transportation for fear of violence.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said the government was working with law enforcement and others to increase police presence on and off the transport system.
He dismissed opposition statements in the legislature that some police officials had raised concerns about public transport safety.
“Yes, it’s safe to ride BC Transit, and the BC Transit Police Chief said so, and I read his statement in the House of Representatives,” Farnworth said.
BC Transit Police Chief Dave Jones said in a statement that the system’s latest statistics show crime has been falling.
“However, it is equally important that traffic police acknowledge that public perception of safety plays an important role in our work,” Jones said.
“Many of the actions we’re taking today, such as enhanced high-visibility patrols across the system, are designed to communicate to passengers that there are resources available to help them if they don’t feel safe.”
Federal Council Chair and Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson said premiers hoped to hear from their premiers on Friday on risks to public safety and what they think is necessary for federal criminal law and judicial reform. sex view.
The premiers’ statement called on the federal government to renew and strengthen the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund in support of provincial and territorial public safety initiatives.
It said the meeting was based on the premiers’ pledge to strengthen Canada’s bail system to better protect the public and create safer conditions for emergency responders.
It said the premiers had also called for “meaningful changes” to the criminal code and urged the prime minister to quickly enact legislation to address their concerns.
—Ashley Joannou, Canadian Press
Fatal stabbing law and justice social media Surrey