Pit a popular party spot, neighbour says

A resident on the street in Garson where a pit party turned deadly last night said it is “unsettling” to learn the incident happened so close to his home.

The resident, who asked that his name not be used, said there are quite a few parties in the area, especially when the weather is nice, and it's not uncommon to see mailboxes vandalized or litter all over the place following a pit party.

“It makes you think twice about leaving things unlocked,” he said. “There have been a few break-ins over the past couple of months.”

The news of the stabbing is “sad, uneasy and unsettling,” he said, and the fact it happened only minutes away from his house only adds to that. He's familiar with pit parties, and said most kids were out to party and have fun.

“No one needs to brings weapons to a party like this,” he said.
 

An officer with the Greater Sudbury Police Service takes crime scene photographs at the site of a pit party in Garson that turned deadly, Aug. 30. Photo by Arron Pickard

The Goodwill Drive resident said he had no idea someone had been stabbed to death until he got to work and heard it from co-workers. Coincidentally, he said he had just told his neighbour's son that these types of parties are dangerous, and then to hear this the next day, “I was worried for him.”

He said he heard from other people that there were close to 200 people at the party.

“This will change the lives of everyone involved,” he said.

Police have not released the name of the 22-year-old victim. Several postings to Northern Life's Facebook page, as well as an email to the newspaper, identified the young man as Justin Dagenais, though again this has not been confirmed by the Greater Sudbury Police Service.

He was stabbed at a pit located north of Goodwill Drive. Signs at the entrance to property identify it as belonging to Vale.

Police had cordoned off the area where the victim was stabbed, adding markers to pieces of evidence laying in the sand. A large fire pit was located just several feet away. Officers with the forensic unit scoured the area looking for any additional evidence.

The name of the 18-year-old taken into custody in relation to the incident has not been released. Police have not yet announced any charges.