A homeless man has been allegedly murdered by eight teenage girls in a fight over a bottle of booze.
Ken Lee, who is originally from Hong Kong and looking for accommodation in Toronto, Canada, was beaten and stabbed by the girls who were aged between 13 and 16, it is alleged.
The 59-year-old victim was attacked as he defended his friend who the teenagers tried to steal a bottle of liquor from.
All the girls were charged with second degree murder and Toronto Police Detective Sergeant Terry Browne described the brutal death as "shocking" and "disturbing".
The victim was pronounced dead in a Toronto hospital after the attack and authorities in Canada want to notify his next of kin.
A vigil for Mr Lee was held at the Toronto Homeless Memorial where he was remembered as a quiet person and devoted friend.
Sanctuary Toronto spokesman and pastor Johnson Hatlem said: "Nobody was surprised that he would stick up for somebody like that."
He had began living in Toronto's shelter system in September.
Mr Hatlem said: "He does have a very supportive family in the area so I wouldn't necessarily call him homeless. Maybe just recently on some hard luck."
Roberto Sanchez, who holds the door open at a nearby Tim Hortons, told CTV News: "He was friendly. He was generous. He was a kind-hearted person. Everyone has their issues. But all in all, I didn't see him as a threat to no one."
"For those youths to do that to him - it's heart-wrenching. I can't believe it."
The victim was reported to be with a female friend when he was attacked.
Witness Ken Webber said: "'They were sitting on a bench, sipping booze out of a mickey and having a cigarette.
"I saw the aftermath of the attack. The teens were standing outside the Union Station stairwell there, arguing, screaming and yelling."
A police source said the girls were "like wild animals" and the crime even came as a shock to police.
He source said: "I've been in policing for almost 35 years and you think you've seen it all.
"Anyone who isn't shocked with hearing something like this has clearly just thrown in the towel and just said that anything is possible in this world.
"Eight young girls and most under the age of 16. If this isn't alarming and shocking to everyone, then we're all in trouble quite frankly."
The girls were involved in an altercation earlier in the night in the same area and were said to have met on social media.
They came different parts of the city according to police.
Browne added. "We don't know how or why they met on that evening and why the destination was downtown Toronto.
'We don't know how long they were acquainted with each other. I wouldn't describe them as a gang at this point."
