Man found dead following Scarborough apartment fire was murdered: Police

Toronto police say a man who was found dead following a fire in a Scarborough apartment Saturday evening was murdered.

Emergency crews were called to 31 Gilder Dr. in the area of Midland and Eglinton avenues shortly before 6:30 p.m.

Toronto Fire Services told Global News there were reports of a fire in a second-floor unit.

Officials said there weren’t visible signs of a fire from outside of the building, but there was a working fire inside the unit and smoke in the hallway.

Fire crews extinguished the blaze and located a male victim inside the unit. He has been identified as 58-year-old Jomo Hendricks.

View image in full screen

Investigators said his death is being treated as suspicious.

The incident marks the 29th homicide in Toronto for 2020.

Officers are looking to speak to anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious around the time of the blaze.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.

1:52 Police investigate quadruple shooting that left 2 dead in Oakville