Investigators in the Dominican Republic are preparing to lay charges against two Canadians with murder in the beating death of 19-year-old Jordan Morrison of Barrie, Ont.

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

The men, who have not been identified but are 21 and 27 years old, could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted, freelance reporter Carlos Benoit told CBC News on Sunday morning. The local prosecutor is expected to release a statement on the charges on Monday, Benoit said.

"[On Monday], they'll face the formal process," he said.

Morrison died after an altercation Friday with a group of five other men at a private disco at the Grand Paradise Bavaro resort near Punta Cana.

Fight came after earlier confrontation

In an interview with CBC Radio's Trevor Dunn, Dominican prosecutor Mercedes Santana Rodriguez said witnesses reported that Morrison and five other men first had an altercation inside the disco.

Rodriguez said one of the men spat at a woman Morrison was with, prompting him to push back and argue with the men. At that point, the situation appeared to calm down, the prosecutor said.

But after the club closed, the men allegedly confronted Morrison outside, Rodriguez said. According to witnesses, Morrison was pushed to the ground, swarmed and beaten.

Morrison was rushed to a clinic but could not be revived, according to a Dominican police news release.

"Jordan died while being transferred to the medical centre in Punta Cana, due to shock and severe trauma received during the fight," said the release, which was translated from Spanish by Dunn.

Police originally detained five men for questioning. The police release names six men, aside from Morrison, allegedly involved in the fight. CBC News has decided not to publish or broadcast those names until the police announce the names of those charged.

Morrison had been vacationing with his mother and father at the resort, which is billed as an ideal vacation spot for families.

Morrison's family was still in the Dominican Republic on Saturday and no one answered the door at their home in Barrie, about 90 kilometres north of Toronto.

Victim had mild form of autism

Friends told CBC News that Morrison had Aspergers syndrome, a mild form of autism, and that he was often bullied as a child.

His death has prompted an outpouring of grief online, including a tribute page on Facebook with the headline "gone but never forgotten."

Jordan Morrison, 19, died after an altercation Friday with a group of men at a private disco at the Grand Paradise Bavaro resort near Punta Cana. (CBC)

Neighbours who knew Morrison said they were still in shock.

Nazih Ali said Morrison was a "good guy" who was very athletic and liked skateboarding.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, while not able to comment about this case, said the federal government can offer some help to Canadians who find themselves in legal trouble in a foreign country.

"We do provide consular service to those in need of it," Cannon told CBC News. "And we make sure that legal provisions are offered to these people."

Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Monette said consular officials can do the following for Canadians charged when arrested abroad:

• Ensure equitable treatment under local laws, consistent with the standards of the host country, and assist in ensuring that their legal rights, as provided locally, are protected.
• Conduct prison visits and ensure treatment consistent with what would be expected by the host country’s own citizens.
• Provide a list of local English-speaking lawyers and information about local legal aid.
• Direct them to sources of information about local laws, regulations, cultural customs and visas.
• Provide financial assistance, but only as a last resort and in exceptional circumstances when there is no one else who can help.

Government officials cannot provide legal advice, pay for fines, post bail or provide travel arrangements for the families of Canadians in foreign jails or prisons.