Three suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with a homicide that occurred on June 23.
Edmonton police were called to a north-side parking lot near Rundle Park early Friday morning. Witnesses said a fight involving weapons had occurred at around 3 a.m.
Police were called to an apartment building in the area of 29 Street and 116A Avenue at around 6:45 a.m.
A 17-year-old boy was found dead in the parking lot. On Monday afternoon, friends and family identified him as Ashton Cardinal.
“He was an amazing boy,” said Mandy Cardinal, Ashton’s aunt. “He had a big heart. He never had no hate. No grudges.”
“Ashton was a good person all around,” said Daphne Badger, Ashton’s friend. “Everybody in the community knew who he was.”
She said Ashton was the second oldest of five children with a single mom. He acted as the man of the house, looking out for his younger siblings.
“He was always smiling. He helped and loved his brothers and sisters a lot,” Badger explained.
“Being the oldest child left at home, he felt he had to fill those shoes to be the provider. He did the best he could. He always made sure they had everything they needed.”
She showed Global News a picture of Ashton and his mother that read, “I loved you your whole life. I’ll miss you for the rest of mine.”
“He was too good of a person, too kindhearted of a person to have died like that,” Badger said.
On Monday afternoon, police released the names of three people that were arrested over the weekend.
Arnold Anton Stephens, 38, Victoria May Carifelle, 30 and Terence Christopher Lewis, 30, have all been charged with second-degree murder.
Police said they believe the accused all knew the victim as well as one another.
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Ashton’s family identified Stephens and Carifelle as neighbours in Parkridge Estates.
Badger said they don’t understand why Ashton died that night.
“There’s so many unanswered questions that don’t make sense to us as we try to figure it out ourselves.”
The 25th homicide of 2017 shook neighbours in the building where the boy was found.
“It was pretty nerve-racking. I didn’t know what to expect,” resident Sean Umlah told Global News Friday. “I’m still nervous, still shaking a little bit, but it’s a tragic situation.”
Another witness reported hearing yelling and screaming at around 3:30 a.m. When she looked outside, she saw someone carrying a board.
“It almost looked like from the fence, but I wasn’t sure,” said the woman who asked that her name not be published.
A memorial with flowers, stuffed animals and a cross is growing near the apartment complex.
Neighbours Stephanie Faelker and Kayla Kopser stopped to pay their respects Monday evening.
“He was 17. No 17-year-old deserves to die,” Faelker said. “I feel for the family. I feel for everyone here in the community that had to see and witness it. It was just a tragic thing for all of us to go through.”
“It’s devastating,” Kopser said. “It’s just so sad. I couldn’t even imagine how their family feels right now.”
The cause of death has not been released. An autopsy on the victim will take place Tuesday.
Cardinal’s family has started a crowdfunding page to help cover funeral costs.
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