The prime suspect in the beating of a Saik'uz First Nation youth that sparked an anti-violence rally turned himself in to Vanderhoof RCMP Monday morning.
The lone suspect has been charged but cannot be named due to his age, said Vanderhoof RCMP Staff Sgt. Dave Beech.
"There are no other suspects, just the one, and he is in custody now, and he has been charged under the Young Offenders Act," Beech said.
He said contrary to popular speculation, the beating did not involve a baseball bat or tire iron.
Beech said the confession eases public anxiety as well as threats against the young suspect.
"There was talk of vigilantism," said Beech. "For him to turn himself in, it is better off for himself because it takes away that slim chance that someone else would do something stupid to him, and it helps with the healing process and the closure process for the community to know he is doing his part, now, to be part of doing the right thing."
Seventeen-year-old Brandon Lee Thomas-Flurer had been walking alone on Friday night on the Saik'uz reserve at Stoney Creek near Vanderhoof when he was attacked, apparently randomly, by passersby driving a pickup truck.
It caused an uproar in the Saik'uz-Vanderhoof community because that neighbourhood had seen too much violence in recent times, said community members.
The potential threat to the suspect was mitigated, heroically in Beech's estimation, by a group of community activists who called the Saik'uz community together on Sunday to defuse that rage.
"The rally very much so [reduced vigilante sentiment]," said Beech who attended the talking circle along with community leaders and about 80 others. "The rally was held not to whip people into a frenzy but to help the community and get to the root of things, not cause further problems.
"It was very well-intentioned, well organized, and there were very positive things being said."
Beech said Thomas-Flurer's medical condition improved over the weekend after being transported from critical care at University Hospital of Northern B.C. back to Vanderhoof Hospital on Sunday.
"So it is all starting to turn around."
