An autopsy has determined a 34-year-old man who died in hospital last weekend after a vicious assault in a west Edmonton apartment building died from sharp and blunt-force injuries.
Family members said Dustin Horsethief, 34, was taken off life support Friday and passed away Saturday afternoon.
The previous weekend, he was found by police in a highrise apartment building, suffering from multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma. Police said the assault involved a machete and firearms.
Horsethief was taken to hospital in critical condition where he had emergency surgery before passing away.
Police said the victim was known to them.
READ MORE: Bloody ‘drug debt’ attack in west Edmonton leads to attempted murder charges for 2 men
Officers were called to the apartment near 173 Street and 69 Avenue at 2 p.m., on Saturday, April 15 for a “disturbance.” Police found two men covered in blood stepping out of the condo building elevator; the pair was questioned, arrested and later charged.
Several other people were found in the 17th-floor suite, according to police. Their wrists were zip-tied and they were facedown on the floor. Some suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
EPS spokesperson Scott Pattison said police believe the accused “forcibly” took those individuals to the suite. Several of them are known to police and were already facing a long list of warrants.
“We believe it’s a drug debt,” Pattison said. “Police also confiscated a machete that’s also alleged to have been used in the attack.”
Trevor Auger, 36, and Jason Hope, 38, are currently facing a total of 65 charges, including attempted murder and weapons offences.
On Wednesday, Edmonton police said the homicide section has taken over the investigation and will be meeting the Crown prosecutor’s office to talk about possibly upgrading the charges against the two accused.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated with a date correction.