The 18-year-old man found dead on the Tk’emlups reserve last Saturday, was a student at Sa-Hali Secondary school, the Kamloops-Thompson School District confirmed Friday morning.

Police say an autopsy revealed that Jagraj Dhinsa was murdered, though they did not release the cause of his death, and only said that he “suffered obvious injuries.”

His body was found in the parking lot shared by St. Joseph’s Church and the Qwemtsin Health Clinic on Chilcotin Road.

In a letter to parents, Sa-Hali Secondary School Principal Rachael Sdoutz confirmed the death of a Grade 12 student, and offered condolences to Dhinsa’s friends and family, though she did not identify him by name.

“In response to this upsetting news, the school, in consultation with the School District No. 73 support team, has implemented a plan that allows students an opportunity to talk about their thoughts and feelings with professional staff,” she said. “To access these services, families may contact the school office, and a time will be arranged for students to meet with a member of the counselling department as soon as possible.”

Both the RCMP and the BC Coroner’s Service are investigating Dhinsa’s death. He had no criminal record according to the BC Court Services Online portal.

“We are asking anyone who had contact with Mr. Dhinsa on Jan. 28 or 29, or who has information that may help investigators in determining Mr. Dhinsa’s activities and whereabouts leading up to his death, to please contact police as soon as possible,” RCMP Inspector Brent Novakoski said, in a statement.