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BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO - Second-degree murder charges have been laid against a teen-aged youth in Behchoko after the tragic death of 38-year old Johnny Dryneck.

The incident happened at the Our Video store in Rae on Thursday night.

Sources who arrived shortly after the attack told News/North that Dryneck and a youth had an argument outside the video store. Apparently, the two entered the store and Dryneck ended up being shoved into glass shelving.

"He was just laying against the glass counter and he wasn't moving," said Tony Lafferty, a relative of the store's owner who arrived on the scene shortly after the incident happened.

He said when he arrived at the store he saw people walking around the body, moving in and out of the building.

"I think they thought he was just drunk and passed out," he said.

Lafferty said he didn't see any blood around the body except a small portion coming from Dryneck's mouth.

"I checked his pulse but I couldn't feel anything and then I got scared - I think he died instantly."

Emergency personnel took Dryneck to Mary Adele Bishop Health Centre in Behchoko and then brought him to Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife where he was pronounced dead.

People who were at the store that night said Dryneck was arguing with a young man over money.

"I heard it was only a few bucks," said Lafferty.

An autopsy on the body is scheduled and the youth, who cannot be identified because of his age, is in custody and will appear in Territorial Court in Yellowknife later today.