Quebec City police say deaths of 2 men found in burned rooming house were homicides

Quebec City police say two men found dead in a rooming house fire earlier this week were homicide victims.

Police identified the two men today as Stéphane Deschênes and Mario Anctil, both 51, and say they are investigating their deaths as a double homicide and arson.

The fire started at about 1 a.m. Wednesday in a rooming house in the city’s Charlesbourg district and was quickly put out by firefighters.

Police were called after the bodies were found inside, with authorities saying both bodies bore marks of violence.

A perimeter set up Wednesday remains in place as the investigation is ongoing.

The same rooming house was the site of another death earlier this year, but police say that case was not found to be criminal.