A 15-year-old boy has been killed in the second homicide of the year in Victoria, B.C.

Victoria Police Sgt. Grant Hamilton says the teen was attacked in the city's downtown core at about 8 p.m. Thursday night.

He says the youth suffered critical stab wounds and was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.

A man was spotted running from the scene and a 39-year-old surrendered to police a short time later.

The suspect remains in custody and Hamilton says he could appear in court as early as Friday afternoon.

The suspect is known to police but investigators say it's too early to speculate on a motive for the attack.