SURREY, B.C. -- A woman has died and a toddler and man are injured following an incident Tuesday night in Surrey, B.C., which police are describing as a case of "family violence."

Mounties say a suspect, who is a family member of the victims, has been arrested.

First responders were called to a townhouse complex on 66 Avenue near 127A Street in the Newton area shortly before 9 p.m. for reports of a medical incident related to a stabbing. It's not clear who made that call to 911.

However, a neighbour says she saw the toddler's father on the phone trying to get help.

"He was telling them that somebody got hurt and they need the ambulance as soon as possible," Aman Preed told CTV.

When emergency crews arrived, three people were found injured.

Surrey RCMP say the woman's injuries were critical, a man was also seriously hurt, and a two-year-old child had serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

All three were taken to hospital, and the woman, who police say is in her late 20s, did not survive. Her name has not been released.

The man, who is in his seventies and was hurt, remains in hospital.

"The injuries were serious and we are continuing to monitor the status of his injuries," Cpl. Joanie Sidhu with Surrey RCMP told reporters Wednesday.

The toddler is expected to survive.

A neighbour told CTV News it appeared the young victim was whisked into an ambulance with bandages on their legs.

According to police, a suspect fled the scene at the townhouse but was arrested nearby. He was not injured, according to Mounties.

IHIT says all of the people involved, including the suspect, lived in the home but Mounties have not disclosed how they are related to each other.

Police were seen photographing what appeared to be a knife before collecting it in an evidence box near 67A Avenue and 127 Street, just a block away from the townhouse complex.

The suspect remains in custody. He has not been publicly identified.

While police confirm the suspect and victims are members of the same family, they have not said how they are related.

"At this point I cannot provide any information about the dynamics of the family and how these individuals were known to one another. What I can tell you is this was a situation of family violence," Cpl. Joanie Sidhu with Surrey RCMP told reporters Wednesday. "There is no threat to public safety."

Sidhu added, "We're going to do everything we can to find the answers about all of the details on what happened in this situation."

IHIT is leading the investigation, and said Wednesday that the top priorities in the investigation will be to "piece together what was said and done in that home last night."

The area around the townhouse is expected to be taped off for what police describe as a "significant amount of time."

A corner unit remained taped off Wednesday afternoon as officers began canvassing homes and suites in the area.

Neighbours describe a woman living in the home as a stay-at-home mom who was often seeing playing outside with her daughter.

Neighbours CTV spoke with also said they never saw any cause for concern with the family. IHIT confirms no one in the home is known to police and they have not responded to any reports of family violence involving people at the home.

"Everybody right now is in shock. Even the little kids, they're in shock," Aman Saina told CTV.

Another resident says she had no idea anything had happened until police and ambulances arrived.

" I’m very scared. I never thought this kind of incident will happen in my neighbourhood," Kandi Dwiveda

"This is a very tragic and concerning incident, not only for the police, but also for the community," Sidhu said.

"The message we want to send to the public is if you are experiencing any type of violence in your family that you can always call Surrey RCMP. We do have specialized units within Surrey RCMP that deal with family violence situations."

Anyone with more information is asked to contact IHIT or Crime Stoppers.

With files from CTV News Vancouver's Regan Hasegawa and MIchele Brunoro in Surrey