VANCOUVER Police have made an arrest in the stabbing death of a 15-year-old boy from Surrey near Robson Square following a violent altercation on Saturday night.

A 17-year-old suspect was taken into custody around 11 p.m. on Monday, after surrendering to a VPD patrol officer near Kingsway and Nanaimo Street. The suspect, a Surrey resident, is currently in custody. Charges have not yet been laid and the investigation is ongoing.

Sgt. Steve Addison said on Monday: “Vancouver Police investigators have been working non-stop to secure evidence, identify witnesses, and find the person, or people, responsible for this murder. There may be people in the community who have knowledge or information that will solve this crime, and we’re asking them to come forward.”

Investigators believe the victim was stabbed shortly before 11:40 p.m. on Saturday near the Vancouver Law Courts at Smithe Street and Hornby Street. A passerby called 9-1-1, and police located the injured boy on Hornby Street.

VPD officers and other first responders provided emergency first aid; however, the victim died in hospital early Sunday morning.

Investigators from VPD’s Operations Division, Forensic Identification Unit, and Major Crime Section worked to collect evidence from the crime scene, to learn more about what led up to the murder, and to identify anyone responsible.

Police believe there may be witnesses who have not yet spoken to police, or others who may unknowingly have dash-cam video of the incident or aftermath.

Anyone with information, or anyone with dash-cam in the area bounded by Georgia Street (north), Smithe Street (south), Howe Street (east), and Hornby Street (west) between 11:30 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, are asked to call the Vancouver Police Homicide tip line at 604-717-2500.

Police are not releasing the name of the victim at this time.