An Ontario teen on a family vacation in the Dominican Republic was allegedly beaten to death by a group of Canadians, police say.
Police in the Caribbean country said Jordan Morrison, 19, from Barrie, Ont., was attacked by several men at a disco in the Grand Paradise Bavaro hotel, near Punta Cana.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has said only that it's aware a Canadian has died in the Dominican Republic and that consular officials are working closely with local authorities to gather more information.
The reason for the attack is unclear but one of the detectives investigating the case told CBC News Morrison was involved in a fight inside a disco early Friday morning. He was beaten and died of his injuries at a clinic in Punta Cana.
Police said five Canadians were apprehended and taken into custody. They did not give any details on where the Canadians were from, other than their nationality.
Police also told CBC News that they have a witness a woman who saw the entire incident and has been providing police with evidence.
No charges have been laid yet as police continue their investigation.
Morrison was holidaying on the Caribbean island with his mother and father.
His parents spent the day Friday at the office of the public prosecutor.
In the central Ontario city where Morrison lived, neighbours who learned of the death on Friday, told the Barrie Examiner that Morrison was "an average boy."
"It's upsetting I feel for the family," Nancy Cook told the Examiner. "You go down south to enjoy [yourself] and have some family time and maybe pull yourselves closer together. To lose one, I can't even imagine how they would feel."
Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Monette confirmed Canadian citizens have been detained by police in the Dominican in connection with the death, but could not provide any other details.
Monette said Canadian officials are working closely with Dominican authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to the victim's family.
The only good thing that can happen in this is the Canadians who did it may be looking at 30 years down there in the Dominican..Something they would not get here..
65 post is right... thats why in my own opinion is why younger people do this kind of thing, they know they will get a slap on the wrist and some community time or counseling. I think its sick that five guys will beat on one person.
A young Barrie man was killed after coming to the aid of a friend at a bar in the Dominican Republic, witnesses said.
Jordan Morrison, 19, had been vacationing with family when he came to the defence of a Guelph woman who was being harassed by a man in the bar, according to Citytv.
He had been staying at the Grand Paradise Bavaro resort in Punta Cana.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lisa Monette said four Canadians were detained by Dominican police in connection to the death. She said her department is working with authorities in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana on the investigation.
Neighbours of the Morrison family reached in Barrie on Saturday expressed shock at the young mans death.
Nazih Ali lives a few doors down from the Morrisons.
It didnt click in my mind right away, said Ali, who knows Morrison through his 15-year-old daughter. When they were younger theyd skateboard on Laidlaw Dr. where both families live.
He taught her how to skateboard actually, Ali said, adding he was a skilled teacher. Hes a master at it, a pro.
As he got older, Morrison got more passionate about skateboarding, said Ali, who often saw him going back and forth on the street.
Ali said no one has been home at the Morrison residence since news of Jordans death spread.
A next door neighbour said the Morrisons are great people and hes shaken by their loss.
Jordans a very nice young man. Its unfortunate it happened that way, said the neighbour, who didnt give his name.
Morrison had Aspergers syndrome, a mild form of autism, according to Citytv.
A witness told the station that Morrison and another man had a brief confrontation before being attacked by a group of men in Punta Cana.
Four guys came up to this lady . . . and this guy, he's from Montreal, Quebec, he spit in the girl's face and then (the victim) reacted, the witness said.
The guy threw the first punch . . . kicked him in the face and pretty much beat him to death with three other guys.
