He was a regular 16-year-old boy, heading to his part-time job after a long day at school. Up until Friday, police never had a reason to know Akila Badhanage but then he became Brampton's latest murder victim.
Police in Peel Region are calling the murder a "random act of violence." Badhanage was swarmed by a group of men around Lord Simcoe Drive while on his way to work late Friday afternoon. They stabbed him and ran away before police arrived on the scene.
Badhanage managed to stumble to the intersection of Dixie Road and Howden Boulevard before he collapsed from his wounds. He was rushed to a hospital in the area but doctors were unable to save him.
Police said Badhanage was an innocent victim and an aspiring young man.
"Akila was a nice young man, who has never been in trouble with the police, and was a model student," said Insp. Norm English, head of the homicide bureau, in a news release.
Police are on the lookout for four or five men seen running from the scene. They are asking anybody who has information or who possibly saw the altercation to come forward by either calling the homicide bureau at (905)453-2121 ext. 3205 or Peel Crime Stoppers at (800)222-8477.
