Burn victim's death being treated as a homicide, police say

Police and fire vehicles are seen on Queen Street at around 6 p.m. Monday. Ottawa police say a man who suffered serious burns Monday morning has died. (Trevor Pritchard/CBC - image credit)
Police and fire vehicles are seen on Queen Street at around 6 p.m. Monday. Ottawa police say a man who suffered serious burns Monday morning has died. (Trevor Pritchard/CBC - image credit)
  • UPDATE: On Oct. 17, 2024, Ottawa police announced they had ruled out homicide in the man's death.

A burn victim who was sent to hospital in life-threatening condition Monday morning after a suspected assault in downtown Ottawa has died, police say.

Shortly after 8 p.m., the Ottawa Police Service said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the death of the man — who has not yet been identified — is being investigated as a homicide.

Officers had been called to the 100 block of Queen Street just after 6 a.m., according to the police force's original post, where they began a "serious assault investigation."

No other details have been released. As of 8:30 p.m., police had not announced any arrests.

Part of the sidewalk in front of the Parliament LRT station was still taped off Monday evening, though access to the station remained open.

Ottawa police cruisers and both municipal and provincial fire vehicles were also still on site.

Police have asked anyone with information to call the force's homicide unit at 613-236-1222, ext 5493.

Police arrived at the scene just after 6 a.m. Monday.
Police arrived at the scene just after 6 a.m. Monday.

Officers were called to the 100 block of Queen Street at around 6 a.m. Monday. An area outside the Parliament LRT station remained taped off more than 12 hours later. (Patrick Louseize/CBC)