The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has identified the teen killed in an assault early Saturday morning in Surrey as 15-year-old Dario Bartoli.

IHIT spokeswoman Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pound said police believe Bartoli and a friend were assaulted by a group of four to five people.

A residence in the 15600 block of 18 Avenue in Surrey is behind police tape after 15-year-old Dario Bartoli died from injuries sustained in an assault by an as yet unidentified group of people. (CBC)

Police were called around 2:43 a.m. PT to a home in the 15600 block of 18 Avenue, where two teenage boys, aged 14 and 15, had fled after being assaulted.

Bartoli was rushed to nearby Peace Arch Hospital with critical injuries, but he succumbed to those injuries at 10:20 a.m. PT.

The 14-year-old sustained minor injuries in the attack.

IHIT pleads for group to come forward

Pound said the group Bartoli was with had been drinking and that poses a problem for investigators.

"We do believe that the individuals that were in this area, the group of individuals were consuming alcohol throughout the day," she said.

Police put markers by two empty bottles of Shanghai Heineken beer found in a nearby park. IHIT said the group Bartoli was with before he was killed had been drinking throughout the day Friday. (CBC)

"We need to collect the truthful evidence, the true evidence that supports the theory of what occurred here and until we do that we can’t move forward quickly," she said. "The early indication was that a group of youth was responsible for this.That has yet to be confirmed."

Pound said IHIT was releasing Bartoli's name in the hope the group that was with him Friday would come forward and speak with them.

"We are asking witnesses and anyone who was with Dario throughout the day yesterday from the afternoon into the evening to come forward and speak with IHIT investigators," she said.

​Police have said weapons were involved in the assault, but have released no further information about them.

Map: 15600 block 18 Avenue, Surrey, B.C.