B.C. mom whose son was killed urges people to call police, not film violence

VANCOUVER — The mother of a teenager stabbed to death on a transit bus in Surrey, B.C., says she hopes her son’s death will bring change. Holly Indridson said while she believes 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 acts happening, don’t film them … call the police,” she said in an interview Tuesday.
She said teachers and other members of the public who see children with violent tendencies should refer them for help.
“There’s no reason people do these types of things,” she said of her son’s murder.
Indridson said her 17-year-old son, Ethan Bespflug, didn’t know the man who attacked him, but was acquainted with the woman who was with his alleged attacker.
Her plea comes as premiers from across the country are slated to meet with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Friday to discuss the recent spate of violence across Canada. On Canadian transit specifically, violent attacks have happened over the last several weeks in Metro Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Toronto.
Bespflug was stabbed last week not far from the King George SkyTrain station in Surrey, B.C. Twenty-year-old Kaiden Mintenko of the neighbouring suburb of Burnaby has been charged with second-degree murder in the death. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said in a news conference Monday that investigators were still working to determine the exact nature of the relationship between the two males, but the attack wasn’t random.
They said Bespflug and Mintenko were known to each other “through a third party” and that investigators were working to determine a motive.
A spokesperson for the homicide investigations team said Tuesday he couldn’t comment on evidence collected or future investigative steps since the case is before the courts and under a publication ban.
Indridson said it feels good knowing someone is in custody after her son’s death.
“It’s a bittersweet thing,” she said. “It doesn’t bring him back but at least there’s some justice that will happen.”
Indridson said she has received support from the community since Bespflug was killed. “’It’s the only thing really getting me through this time. It’s just with the support and keeping his memory alive, and showing who he was,” she said…
Source: newwestrecord.ca