Two teenage boys have been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the Aug. 16 stabbing death of Paul Prestbakmo in a South Surrey parking lot.

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Integrated Homicide Investigation Team officials announced the charges 含羞草研究社� against a 15- and 16-year-old 含羞草研究社� at a press conference this afternoon (Thursday) at the Surrey RCMP detachment.

Both teens have been in custody since Aug. 22, for breaching court-imposed conditions on a separate matter, IHIT spokesman Sgt. Frank Jang told media.

At the press conference, Jang said the murder 含羞草研究社� which police describe as an unprovoked attack 含羞草研究社� was not related to gang violence. He described the age of the two charged as 含羞草研究社渢roubling.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 shocking. Fortunately, we don含羞草研究社檛 hear about young people charged with these kinds of offences every day. But certainly when you hear about that, especially in our community, it含羞草研究社檚 very shocking,含羞草研究社� Jang said.

Jang said police believe Prestbakmo and the two youths knew each other 含羞草研究社渢o some degree,含羞草研究社� as Prestbakmo was a well-known member of the South Surrey and Semiahmoo First Nation community. He said police do not believe that it was a stranger-on-stranger attack.

含羞草研究社淧aul Prestbakmo, 45 years old, worked as a mechanic含羞草研究社�含羞草研究社� Jang said. 含羞草研究社淢y understanding is that he was, in those early hours, taking out the garbage and went for a smoke. Then, he was subsequently murdered. It含羞草研究社檚 a tragic case.含羞草研究社�

Due to their age, Jang said there is little information police can share about the two accused.

Surrey RCMP Cpl. Elenore Sturko said RCMP has increased its presence in the South Surrey area to 含羞草研究社渉elp restore the community含羞草研究社檚 feelings of safety.含羞草研究社�

She, along with Jang, credited the development in the case to witnesses who came forward following an appeal by police and Prestbakmo含羞草研究社檚 family.

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含羞草研究社淐oming and bringing information to investigators can not only help solve a crime today, but can prevent one tomorrow,含羞草研究社� Sturko said.

Prestbakmo, 45, died in a parking lot at the southwest corner of 18 Avenue and 152 Street. Police flooded the area after receiving reports of a man found bleeding just before 3:30 a.m. Officers found Prestbakmo 含羞草研究社渦nresponsive with serious injuries.含羞草研究社�

In a statement released Thursday, Jang said the charges would not have been possible without the 含羞草研究社渢ireless efforts含羞草研究社� of IHIT investigators 含羞草研究社渢o secure and compile evidence for charge approval.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淎 violent incident like this has significant impacts on both the victim含羞草研究社檚 family and the surrounding community, as their sense of safety is upended,含羞草研究社� Sturko added in a news release.

含羞草研究社淚t is our sincere hope that the quick conclusion to this investigation will bring a measure of comfort to both Mr. Prestbakmo含羞草研究社檚 family and to the South Surrey community.含羞草研究社�

aaron.hinks@peacearchnews.com
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