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Teen Murderer Gets Maximum 7-Year Sentence | Calgary News 2025
Teen Sentenced to Maximum 7-Year Term for 2nd-Degree Murder in Calgary
A 17-year-old in Calgary has been sentenced to the maximum 7 years for fatally stabbing a 16-year-old in June 2024. Full details on the case and sentencing.
A Calgary teen has received the maximum youth sentence of 7 years for the 2024 second-degree murder of a 16-year-old boy. The details of the tragic incident.
By Amen News
Blink
2025-09-10
5 min read
✍️ Introduction:
In a shocking incident in Calgary, a 17-year-old has been sentenced to the maximum allowable penalty under the Youth Criminal Justice Act for the second-degree murder of 16-year-old Dean Visser. The brutal act, which took place in June 2024, stemmed from a hostile social media feud that ended in a fatal stabbing over a hoodie. This case has raised important questions about youth crime, social media conflicts, and the consequences of violence. Here's everything you need to know about this tragic event and the sentencing.
🔒 The Crime: Stabbing Over a Hoodie
The crime took place on June 6, 2024, when the 17-year-old killer, identified only as SK due to a publication ban under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, attacked Dean Visser, a 16-year-old boy, in the Forest Lawn area of Calgary. The incident occurred after a brief exchange of hostile messages on social media, which escalated into violence.
SK had never met Visser before, but upon spotting him walking with his girlfriend, SK approached him from behind and stabbed him multiple times. The motive was a feud over an expensive hoodie—a BAPE hoodie—which Visser was wearing. SK demanded the hoodie, and after taking it, he fled the scene.
🎯 The Social Media Feud
The tragic event began weeks before the fatal encounter, with SK and Visser exchanging hostile messages on social media. While the feud began with small disagreements, it escalated into deeper animosity. The culmination of the conflict came when SK encountered Visser in person, which led to the violent act.
The incident highlights the dangers of escalating online conflicts into real-world violence. The case serves as a chilling reminder of how unresolved issues and hostility on platforms like Instagram can lead to severe consequences.
🛠️ Sentencing: Maximum Youth Sentence
On August 25, 2025, a Calgary judge, Justice Lisa Silver, sentenced SK to the maximum youth sentence of 7 years for the second-degree murder of Dean Visser. This sentence consists of 4 years in custody followed by 3 years of community supervision.
The sentence was proposed jointly by the prosecutor and defense attorneys, and was finalized by Justice Silver, who acknowledged SK's progress in custody. Despite the nature of his crime, Justice Silver credited SK for participating in rehabilitative programs, counseling, and mentoring fellow inmates. The judge noted that rehabilitation could still be an attainable goal for the teen.
💬 Family Impact
The victim impact statements from Dean Visser’s family were powerful and moving. The victim's family expressed their devastation, describing how they had spent 379 days grieving their son's loss. Justice Silver noted that the family is “bewildered in their grief,” as they struggle to comprehend the senseless nature of the crime.
At the sentencing hearing, Dean’s parents and his sister spoke about the impact of losing their loved one, emphasizing the emotional toll the murder had on their lives. The family continues to count the days of their loss, unable to fully process the pain of such a violent act.
🕵️♂️ Investigation and Confession
After the stabbing, SK attempted to cover his tracks by discarding his clothes and lying to both his mother and the police, claiming he had acted in self-defense. However, upon being confronted with CCTV footage from the scene, SK confessed to his crime, admitting that he had acted out of a blackout rage fueled by the ongoing social media feud with Visser.
📊 The Role of Social Media in Youth Violence
This case raises important concerns about the role of social media in escalating conflicts among teens. Instagram and other platforms can provide a breeding ground for hostility and conflict, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that these online issues can sometimes spill over into real-world violence. Parents, educators, and policymakers need to address the dangers of online interactions, particularly for teenagers who may not yet fully understand the consequences of their actions.