Police say a man whose body was found in a back alley in Surrey, B.C., appears to have been the victim of a homicide.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has identified the victim as 19-year-old Tanner Krupa of Edmonton.

Earlier this past weekend, friends and family were desperately searching for him and sharing a Facebook post from his sister.

That now-deleted post suggested he went missing in the area of 66A Avenue and was in Surrey working for an oil and gas company.

"I understand that Mr. Krupa moved recently to the Lower Mainland area from Edmonton for employment purposes and that is why we are asking the friends, the coworkers who knew Mr. Krupa to come forward and speak to police," said IHIT spokesperson Cpl. Frank Jang.

Police say officers were called early Sunday morning after a report of an altercation. A man was found dead in a back alley in the 6900 block of 127A Street with injuries consistent with a homicide.

Jang says the investigation is in the early stages and it is not clear whether the man was targeted. Investigators say Krupa was not known to police and didn't have a criminal record.

Police are not revealing how he died but they have been speaking to witnesses. Neighbours say they didn't see or hear anything suspicious before Krupa's body was discovered in the alleyway.

The cause of Krupa's death has not been released. An autopsy is taking place this week.