Burnaby man, 20, charged in fatal stabbing of teen aboard Surrey bus

A 20-year-old Burnaby man faces a murder charge in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Ethan Bespflug on a bus in Surrey.

The Abbotsford teen was riding a Coast Mountain bus on April 11 near King George SkyTrain Station when he was attacked. He was rushed to hospital but died soon after.

Integrated Homicide Investigation Team spokesman Sgt. Tim Pierotti said Kaiden Mintenko was picked up from a Burnaby residence on Sunday and was charged Monday with second-degree murder. 

At a press briefing Monday, homicide investigators confirmed Bespflug knew his attacker and the murder was targeted. But police have said it is not linked to the B.C. gang conflict.

Surrey RCMP Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards called the killing “heartbreaking” and extended his condolences to the teen’s friends and family.