Family Says Teens Gave Boy Drugs, Left Him to Die

"Carson almost died LOL." That was the caption, police say, of one social media post about 14-year-old British Columbia teen Carson Crimeni—who did not, in fact, end up surviving. He was found alone and unresponsive in a Langley Township skate park Wednesday night, and could not be revived. Police think someone gave the teen drugs and then left him to die; they say other posts included video of him as he overdosed, the CBC reports. Carson's grandfather, who was the one to find the boy after his family became concerned he was not responding to phone calls, says he saw some of the social media posts that included video of his grandson in distress as others laugh. Witnesses reported seeing a group of boys taunting another boy who looked ill, CTV News reports.

Carson's dad says his son was happy, loved hockey, and often played World of Warcraft with his dad. But, he says, the boy had a hard time making friends and ended up hanging out with a crowd a few years older than he was. "He thought these people were his friends," he says. "He trusted them." Adds Carson's grandfather, "He was just trying to fit in." Police are investigating the teen's death, and want to talk to anyone who saw him in his final hours alive, which he may have spent on foot going between a number of parks in the area. Meanwhile, Carson's family wants justice, but is urging the public not to take matters into their own hands, Global News reports. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for the family. (More Canada stories.)