SURREY, B.C. - Police say they have arrested a 20-year-old man from Burnaby, B.C., in connection with the stabbing of a teenager on a Metro Vancouver transit bus last week.
Seventeen-year-old Ethan Bespflug was killed on a bus in Surrey, B.C., last Tuesday. On Sunday, IHIT officers located and arrested 20-year old Kaiden Mintenko in relation to the homicide.
On Monday, the British Columbia Prosecution Service laid a charge of second degree murder against Mintenko, who remains in custody.
According to police, Mintenko and Bespflug were known to each other through a third party.
Police say they don't believe the attack was random.
The family has said the teen's mother realized something was wrong when she tracked her son's phone to a hospital in New Westminster. When she arrived she was told he had died.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says he has spoken to his federal counterpart, Marco Mendicino, about the issue of violence on public transit, which is occurring across Canada.
Farnworth says he expects to see an increased law enforcement presence on transit systems in B.C. after ministry officials met with policing agencies about transit safety.
Bespflug's aunt, Andrea Van Der Gracht, said in an earlier interview that Ethan was a good kid, and an older brother who worked hard to help look after his four siblings.
She said the teen regularly took the bus to Surrey, where his mother would pick him up for their drive home to Abbotsford, about an hour east.
Van Der Gracht said the family had moved from Surrey last year, partly because of concerns about crime.
Brian Edwards, the officer in charge of the Surrey RCMP, said Mounties are working closely with transit police and are assigning mobile street enforcement officers to areas that need a visible presence.
"Such violence, it generates fear in our community. As such, I remain committed to a direct approach, as I've stated," he said.
"On a long-term approach, we need to look at the root causes, such as mental health, addictions, bail reform and resourcing."
Transit violence also came up in the legislature Monday, with B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon saying people in B.C. want safe transit systems and safe communities.
"When is this premier and this government finally going to take some steps so people feel safe in their communities again," Falcon said.
Premier David Eby called the recent transit attacks "horrific" and "absolutely heartbreaking" and promised the government will continue to take action.
