Woman dead after 3 people, including toddler, stabbed in Surrey

A woman is dead after a triple stabbing in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday night that also left a toddler seriously injured.

RCMP said a man, woman and two-year-old child were stabbed inside an apartment at a complex in the 12700-block of 66 Avenue. Paramedics took all three people to hospital just before 9 p.m. 

The woman, who had critical injuries, later died.

Mounties said the man was in serious condition. The two-year-old's injuries were also described as serious, but non life-threatening.

Cpl. Elenore Sturko said a suspect was arrested not far from the apartment complex after running from the scene. He remains in custody.

"The early indications are that this was an incident of family violence," Sturko said early Wednesday.

The officer said the victims and suspect are known to each other and the public is not believed to be at risk.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has been dispatched to investigate the woman's death. Surrey RCMP are investigating the attack as an aggravated assault.

The BC Coroners Service was also notified.

'Hard and sad news'

Neighbours in the area that knew the family said they were surprised to hear about the violence.

"It was a happy family and the girl always waved at my daughter, seemed like happy family," said Harpreet Jhaj.

Aman Sainai, another neighbour, said, "it was so terrible when I heard about that, it's hard and sad news."

Neighbours described the family as South Asian and said they had never caused any trouble.

Acharya Dwivedi, who lives close by, addressed the issues highlighted by the violent incident. 

"We have to accept there is a problem," he said about domestic violence.

According to the Canadian Women's Foundation, a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner approximately every six days,

The foundation also says children who witness violence in the home have twice the rate of psychiatric disorders as children from non-violent homes.

'Willing to step in'

Ninu Kang with the Ending Violence Association of B.C. says the statistics are "horrific."

"Many Canadians would be surprised that's the impact ... how many women living in fear of violence," she said.

Kang says most domestic homicides are preventable, but it often takes friends and family to speak out if they see or know something.

"This is why we say this crime is preventable. If all of us had our antennas on and all willing to step in and make sure that the person gets resources and the support they need," she said.

If you need help and are in immediate danger, call 911. To find assistance in your area, visit sheltersafe.ca or http://endingviolencecanada.org/getting-help.