Three charged in connection with stabbing
WHISTLER: ‘This has been beyond devastating,’ family says of weekend altercation that killed 19-year-old
Three teens have been charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of 19-year-old Luka Gordic in Whistler on Sunday.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced that three 17-year-old suspects are facing manslaughter charges after what police described as “an altercation between two groups spending the long weekend in Whistler.”
IHIT media officer Sgt. Stephanie Ashton said an-18-year-old-man could also face charges.
“This was a situation where a group of young people who knew each other had a dispute which turned deadly,” Ashton said. “There are some witnesses who have yet to speak with investigators about the death of Luka Gordic. We ask that those people come forward now and tell us what they know.”
She said the accused all appeared in North Vancouver provincial court on Tuesday.
Gordic was stabbed at about 12:30 a.m. on Sunday near Main Street in Whistler. Gordic was taken to the local clinic with life-threatening injuries and later died.
Members of Gordic’s family were in court Tuesday for the appearances of the accused.
“Our response is that, basically, nothing’s going to satisfy us,” said Gordic’s uncle, Gianni Buono, who was among the family members in court Tuesday.
“We just want the people who are responsible to be held accountable and … we want to prevent things like this from happening in the future.”
Buono said countless family members were gathering to support Gordic’s parents and siblings.
“We’re a big family… but something like this rocks any family and we’re definitely shaken by it,” Buono told The Province on Tuesday.
“We want to ensure that the full extent of the law is applied to these individuals and that all of them are accounted for.”
Buono made a plea on behalf of the family for any individuals with information on the stabbing death to contact RCMP.
Gordic’s older brother Milos described the teen as his best friend and said the family is devastated.
“This has been beyond devastating,” Milos told The Canadian Press on Monday. “People are going to think this is a gang-on-gang thing, but it’s not like that. He was an innocent little man.”
He said Luka, who turned 19 earlier this month, graduated from Burnaby Central Secondary School a year ago and was studying to become a plumber at Pacific Vocational College. He was the youngest of four kids and lived at home with his parents, two older brothers, one sister and the family dog.
“Something’s got to be done,’’ Milos said. “You’ve got innocent kids getting stabbed. It shouldn’t happen to anyone.”
There was a second stabbing Sunday night in Whistler in which another 19-year-old suffered non-lifethreatening injuries. Police said it was unrelated to Gordic’s death.
Anyone with information about the fatal stabbing is asked to call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551IHIT (4448) or email ihittipline@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.