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By Paul Cowley - Red Deer Advocate
Published: August 27, 2008 9:58 AM
Updated: August 28, 2008 6:27 AM
Red Deer RCMP are investigating the city’s first homicide since 2005.
Responding to a call, police found an injured man in a vehicle parked near 55th Street and 47th Avenue about 1 a.m. on Wednesday. The man was taken to hospital by ambulance but later died from his injuries.
Just a few minutes earlier, police had been called to a disturbance about a block away at 47th Avenue and 54th Street.
On arriving, they found a 41-year-old Red Deer man suffering from multiple injuries. He was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Investigators have determined that the two incidents are related, but police would shed little light on what may have happened or whether a weapon was involved.
“I can confirm we have a homicide today,” said Const. Sabrina Grunow, at a news conference held in the parking lot of an apartment near one of the crime scenes. Yellow police tape still cordoned off the rear of the building.
“What the disturbance was I can’t say at this time,” she said.
No more details were available on the age or hometown of the victim or the nature of his fatal injuries.
Grunow said the injured man is now in custody and is considered a person of interest in the case. No charges have been laid.
Residents questioned in the neighbourhood of apartment blocks and older homes said they did not hear or see anything early on Wednesday.
One couple said the area is plagued with crack addicts and prostitutes. They said they narrowly avoided being attacked in a parking lot while walking home only a week ago.
A man who moved into the apartment block near the crime scene a week ago said he didn’t hear anything and found out that something serious had happened when he was questioned by police about 8 a.m.
“It’s surprising, you know, that I didn’t hear,” said Chris Maloney.
RCMP’s general investigation section, forensic identification services, dog services, and the RCMP’s serious crime branch from Calgary are involved in the investigation.
The city’s last homicide took place in June 2005 when Grant Shoemaker was murdered in his West Park townhouse. Paul Lionel White, 21, of Red Deer was convicted earlier this month of second-degree murder and sentence to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 13 years.
Contact Paul Cowley at pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com
