An Ontario teen on a family vacation in the Dominican Republic was allegedly beaten to death by a group of Canadians, police say.

Jordan Morrison, seen here in this undated photo, was vacationing in the Dominican Republic with his parents when he was beaten to death. (Facebook)

Police in the Caribbean country said Jordan Morrison, 19, from Barrie, Ont., was attacked on Friday morning by several men at a disco in the Grand Paradise Bavaro hotel, near Punta Cana.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has said only that it's aware a Canadian has died in the Dominican Republic and that consular officials are working closely with local authorities to gather more information.

The reason for the attack is unclear but one of the detectives investigating the case told CBC News Morrison was involved in a fight inside a disco early Friday morning. He was beaten and died of his injuries at a clinic in Punta Cana.

"He was taken to the Punta Cana clinic and it is not certain whether he was dead on arrival there or whether he died from his wounds after having arrived there," the CBC's John Northcott reported Saturday.

Police said five Canadians were apprehended and taken into custody. They did not give any details on where the Canadians were from, other than their nationality.

Police also told CBC News that they have a witness — a woman — who saw the entire incident and has been providing police with evidence.

CBC News has learned that Dominican police have 48 hours to lay charges or release the five Canadians in custody.

The Barrie, Ont., teen died while on a family vacation near Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. (Canadian Press)

No charges have been laid yet as police continue their investigation.

Morrison was holidaying on the Caribbean island with his mother and father.

His parents spent the day Friday at the office of the public prosecutor.

In the central Ontario city where Morrison lived, neighbours who learned of the death on Friday, told the Barrie Examiner that Morrison was "an average boy."

"It's upsetting — I feel for the family," Nancy Cook told the Examiner. "You go down south to enjoy [yourself] and have some family time and maybe pull yourselves closer together. To lose one, I can't even imagine how they would feel."

Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Monette confirmed Canadian citizens have been detained by police in the Dominican in connection with the death, but could not provide any other details.

Monette said Canadian officials are providing consular assistance to the victim's family.

With files from CBC's Ivy Cuervo and The Canadian Press