www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday May 16, 2007 - 5 Police say long-standing feud sparked street brawl Continued from page 1 Peel Homicide Inspector Norm English said the fight appeared to be sparked by a long-simmering "immature" feud dating back a few years. There were at least 20 youths on the street at the time, although how many were actually fighting differs "depending on who you talk to," English said. There were two dozen or more young people between the ages of 19 and 21 at what started out as a barbecue at a Brampton home. A young woman whose parents were not at home at the time was hosting the party. At 10:15 p.m., a fight that had started among party-goers spilled out onto the street and they began hitting each other with beer bottles. Witnesses said a handful of teens tried to administer first aid to Atwal after he was stabbed. He died in hospital a short time later. Some of the combatants left before police arrived, others stayed. English said investigators are interviewing those who attended the party, as well as residents in the otherwise quiet neighbourhood. Neighbour Rob Voth said he watched as two teens pinned another against a fence and threw punches as a third kicked him. Voth, 38, said he watched another teen, later identified as Atwal, stand in the street exhorting others to fight. "You could see his hand was up with some kind of weapon in his hand, whatever it was, ready for battle, preparing himself, like, `bring it on,'" he said. "It all happened pretty fast." "It was something about, `You didn't like me in Grade 10,'" said Voth. "It's not a good scene," he said, gazing across a street criss-crossed with yellow police tape. "I've only been here two years and now I'm ready to go a little further north into the country, do some home-schooling with my kids and make sure they're safe." His wife Samantha also said they may move from the neighbourhood constructed just six years ago. "It was mass chaos," she said. "There were people screaming. It was very scary. You don't expect something like that to happen on your front lawn." She fought back tears as she spoke of the teen's death. "You wake up and it's Mother's Day and you realize that a mother is without her son," she said. The incident shook many residents on the street. Lisa Snelgrove, a 29-year-old mother of children age 12, 10 and 8, made a snap decision. "I called my real estate agent to put my house up for sale as soon this tape comes down," she said. She said she moved to Brampton from Rexdale "to give my kids a better life." But she doesn't know where they'll go next to escape violence. "It's every- where," she said. No murder weapon has been found. The investigation is continu- ing. Anyone with information is asked to call Peel police, Homicide Bureau, at 905-4533311, ext. 3205, or Peel Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1800-222-TIPS (8477). -- With files from Torstar News Service HERITAGE SALE Encourage Your Child to Read a Newspaper We owe our children the greatest education we can give them, and encouraging them to read is an important part of that education. Open a door of entertainment, wonder and knowledge for your children by encouraging them to begin a practice they will enjoy for the rest of their lives. From at Home in Tuscany 25% Off Save an additional 25% off our Heritage collections, including At Home in Tuscany and At Home in Belle Maison, yours to personalize with an endless combination of styles, finishes and custom options.* Belle Maison: Bed of Ribbon Fitzroy Sofa, from the Lillian August 409 BRANT STREET, BURLINGTON $ $000 905-333-6670 1-888-846-7845 BUCKINGHAM CENTER TABLE The Oakville Beaver It all starts with newspaper. Monday to Saturday 9:30-5:30, Thursday & Friday 9:30-9:00, Sunday 12:00-5:00 w w w. t h o m a s v i l l e b u r l i n g t o n . c o m *Some exclusions and exceptions apply, see store for details. ©2007 Drexel Heritage Furniture Industries, Inc.