The victim of an East Vancouver sword attack on Wednesday is being remembered as a "loving, caring person," who was "always there for his friends and family."
Manraj Akalirai, 19, is being mourned as a fun-loving jokester who loved to play basketball, according to messages posted by his friends on a Facebook memorial group.
Akalirai, who recently graduated from Gladstone High School, was killed in group attack at Elgin Street and East 47th Avenue that involved clubs, bats and a sword, reported CBC News.
The victim died of severe injuries believed to be caused by a sword, said police on Thursday. They said the killing had suggested ties to the drug trade and "some gang connections."
But Akalirai's family told CBC in a statement that he had no ties to gangs or drugs.
One tribute on Facebook, alleged to be from Akalirai's cousin, said he fought like a "champ and a warrior" after getting caught up in "someone else's bull***."
Police arrested five men shortly after the Wednesday attack but they've all been released from custody. A sixth man, who was arrested in downtown Vancouver on Thursday afternoon, is being questioned by homicide investigators, said police on Friday. No charges have yet been laid.
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