A 19-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder following the fatal stabbing of a 29-year-old man at a popular Nanaimo park Monday night.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m., on September 5th, at Maffeo Sutton Park in downtown Nanaimo.
The victim was found with serious injuries after police were called to the park for an initial complaint about a group of youths intimidating a security guard along the waterfront in downtown Nanaimo.
The victims were located prior to being able to call 911 for assistance.
The suspects fled the area, and while police were conducting patrols, an officer came upon the stabbing victim and his friend who had been bear sprayed.
Paramedics transported the injured man, a 29-year-old from Nanaimo, to hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The other man, aged 22, was treated for the effects of the bear spray and did not require hospitalization.
That same night, two suspects were arrested, a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old incident. Both were were released without charges, noting that the investigation was in its early stages.
On Friday, RCMP confirmed Mark Jayden Harrison has been charged second-degree murder. He has also been charged with assault with a weapon and committing an offence with a restricted weapon other than a firearm.
The other suspect, Aiden Bell, is facing charges of assault with a weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Harrison appeared in Nanaimo provincial court today and will remain in police custody to await his next court appearance which is set for Tuesday, September 20th.
