The mother of a Calgary man who died after a vicious assault last year made an emotional plea for help from the public on Friday.
Trevor Lomond was found unconscious and suffering from life-threatening injuries at a house in the 1600 block of 42 Street S.W. at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016.
He died in hospital eight days later on Sept. 21.
“Trevor was on life support,” Sherry Duperre said at a Friday morning news conference. “He was beaten to the point where he had severe brain trauma. He would have been clinically brain-dead – a vegetative state – for the rest of his life. So as a family, we had to make the decision if Trevor would want to live in that condition for the rest of his life. We chose, as a family, to take him off of life support.”
Duperre said the decision was one of the hardest things she’s ever had to do.
“No parent should have to bury a child.”
On Friday, police confirmed Lomond’s death is considered a homicide.
“We believed it to be a homicide right from the start,” Insp. Don Coleman of the Major Crimes Section said.
READ MORE: Calgary police investigate death of 33-year-old man
Police believe the fatal assault happened in the home where Lomond was found, but aren’t sure if they’re searching for one suspect or multiple people.
Coleman said police have received “varying degrees” of cooperation from the people who live at the home where Lomond was found.
WATCH: Sherry Duperre, the mother of Calgary homicide victim Trevor Lomond, makes a public plea for information on her son’s death
In a statement, an emotional Duperre addressed her son’s death while Lomond’s brother stood beside her at a podium.
“I have a hard time comprehending why, or most importantly how, someone could hurt another person with no regards for the outcome or human life,” she said. “Only someone who has lost a child can understand the grief… the grief that’s magnified when a life is lost at the hands of a vicious attack. You are left in shock and disbelief.”
“I know there are people out there who know something. I’m asking you to please come forward the police with any information that you may have.”
Lomond leaves behind two children: Jordan, 11, and Rachel, 8.
“My family’s world has changed forever, never to be the same again,” Duperre said.
“Pieces of my family and Trevor’s children’s will never be put back in place.”
Duperre described her son as having a beautiful, soft heart.
“A heart of gold – as I always told him,” she said. “He made friends easily and could strike up a conversation with anyone. He was always there to help. He was funny, smart and full of love. Trevor was a very honest person who would always help out his friends if he could.”
Duperre said she spoke to her son on the night he was assaulted.
“Trevor and I spoke every day on the phone. Most days we would speak three or four times a day. He never went to bed without calling me or texting me to say goodnight.”
She said Lomond told her he was going to a home in the southwest, and would call her later – but he never did.
“I called him, there was no answer.”
“I didn’t sleep well that night because we usually always said goodnight to each other and it just didn’t feel right to me.”
Police said they were unable to discuss whether or not a weapon had been recovered, so as to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Duperre indicated Trevor had “got off track” for a little while, but had gone back to school to be an accountant and had started to “get his life back on track.”
Investigators are still working to determine if the attack was targeted.
“I’m not so sure it was random,” Coleman said. “There are still some gaps we need filled in.”
Tips can be passed along to police by calling 403-266-1234 or the Homicide Unit Tip Line at 403-428-8877. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers.