A Surrey, B.C., man who died March 17 in what police said appeared to be an attempted home invasion was targeted because he was a member of the white supremacist group Blood and Honour, one of his associates says.

Police were called about 11 p.m. PT to a residence in the Fraser Heights section of Surrey where they found evidence of a violent struggle and a 36-year-old man with head injuries.

Officers followed a blood trail from that home and found the body of Jan Korinth, 26, two residences away. He had been stabbed to death.

The first man was treated and released from hospital. He has not been charged and police have not said if he is a suspect in Korinth’s slaying.

"They ... planned to attack, no doubt because Jan was a member of Blood and Honour. It was a hate crime against our people. We will not stop until there is justice for our fallen comrade," the purported friend said in an email to CBC News.

Blood and Honour is an organization that made headlines earlier this year after three alleged members of the group were charged in connection with assaults on members of visible minorities in Metro Vancouver.

Korinth was on probation after a conviction for assault causing bodily harm.

'Good kid'

Korinth grew up on Mayne Island, B.C., where he formerly worked as a firefighter. A former colleague called him "a good kid from a good family."

Korinth also spent time in Germany and Calgary and that's where anti-racist groups began tracking him, according to Alan Dutton, of the Canadian Anti-Racism and Education Society.

"[Korinth] has been associating with hate groups for a number of years. He was involved with Aryan Guard in Calgary," said Dutton. "It's a shame that young people die and get involved in hate groups and we can learn from this.… When you do get involved in hate groups your life will end in tragedy."

Dutton said police should consider the possibility that revenge was the motive for Korinth's death.

"With respect to retaliation, hate groups operate on the basis of fear, intimidation and bullying and there is no doubt in my mind that if they suspect that this is a targeted attack on Blood and Honour, that there would be violence that would ensue," said Dutton.

Police declined comment Friday on their investigation into Korinth's death, but released a written statement Saturday saying the motive for the stabbing was still being investigated but "there is nothing to suggest it was motivated by any issues relating to hate crime or ... Korinth’s membership to Blood and Honour."

Police added Korinth was not attacked inside his own home.