Wednesday March 3, 2021 | NORTH COWICHAN, BC
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
RCMP File# 2121-3190 | Anyone with information or was a witness to this incident are asked to contact the North Cowichan Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522.
A 17-year-old young man was stabbed to death by someone he knew, yesterday March 2.
The victim was a resident of North Cowichan, and RCMP said in a statement today that it was an “isolated incident between two individuals who were known to each other”.
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP were called to a home in the Cowichan Lake Road area of Duncan around 1 am Monday March 1 in response to reports of an assault with a weapon.
When officers arrived they found two people outside the home. A 17-year-old was found suffering from life-threatening stab wounds, while the other person (determined to be under age 18) surrendered to police without issue. The victim later died in hospital.
The circumstances of the death have been shocking. “Victims Service workers and grief counsellors have been contacted and are working with those most affected by this tragic incident,” said Chris Bear, Detachment Commander, North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP.
School district response:
Calling the incident a tragic death, Cowichan Valley School District 79 (SD79) Superintendent Robyn Gray in a statement on March 3: said “our hearts and thoughts go out to his family, friends and community”. She said the community is grieving but that the grieving of the family is a private matter.
SD79 has a Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) that is mobilized for any traumatic incident. Layers of support are offered for students, staff and affected family members.
“While we try to reach out to any student who may be traumatized by these events, we know that families may find child(ren) coming home and wanting to share stories or information about what they have heard,” says Gray. “Please support them and let them know that our teams are ready to help them work through any emotions and thoughts.”
Under Superintendent Gray who on April 1 will be in the top post now two years, SD79 works with a collaborative leadership style including working closely with First Nations communities.
