Friends call for justice in ‘cold-blooded murder’ of Calgary teen

A loved one of a local 18-year-old whose life was cut short by a violent attack in the southeast last week is speaking out.

Charges have now been laid in the death of Danillo Canales Glenn, who was bear sprayed and brutally stabbed at a basketball court in Copperfield last Tuesday,

Miguel Nieto Cepeda has been friends with Glenn, who he called Danny, for several years, and said he was just like family.

“Danny was an unbelievable type of guy, you’re never going to find a guy like Danny ever again on this planet. I’m really sad that I’ll never be able to say goodbye to my friend,” he said.

Watch: Friends and family honour life of slain Calgary teen 

Cepeda described his friend as passionate, loveable, kind, and caring.

While he wasn’t with Glenn at the time of the attack, Cepeda says he understands Glenn was defending two other people at the time he was killed — an act he says represents his caring nature.

“Danny was just not a hero that day because he saved two kids from getting robbed,” he said. “Danny is a hero because he saved countless lives — I can’t speak for everyone that ever knew Danny, but Danny was always the nicest person, he would always help you out, even when he was in pain, even when he had the most trouble in his life, he always set his stuff aside to put others first.”

Now two people, aged 16 and 18 are facing second-degree murder charges.

Both suspects made brief appearances in court on Monday.

The brothers, who were arrested on Saturday are both charged with second-degree murder.

They can’t be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Related stories: 

• Suspects face second-degree murder charges in death of Calgary teen: police

• Two arrests made in fatal stabbing of teen in Copperfield: Calgary police

• ‘He was excited about his future’: Teen stabbing victim identified, Calgary police search for suspects

• Calgary police investigate fatal southeast stabbing

Cepeda wants both of the suspects to be tried as adults, and believes that a youth sentence would be far too lenient for taking the life of his best friend.

“That was cold-blooded murder — they sprayed him in his eyes and stabbed him through his chest,” he said. “That’s not something you ever want to hear happened to your friend or your family.”

He noted that the most heartbreaking part of the crime is that Glenn had a bright future ahead of him, and was just days away from starting his education in the trades at SAIT when he was killed.

Cepeda says his friend deserves justice.

“And for the kids out there, the kids who did this to Danny, you don’t deserve that youth trial. You deserve to rot in hell. Those jail cells — make them your house — that’s where I want you to be, because no amount of time that you spend in there is ever bring back my boy Danny. But, at least we’ll know it was justice, that Danny got the justice he deserved.”

The case is set to return to court on Sept. 22.

–With files from The Canadian Press