Calgary police say a man died from his injuries after an assault Tuesday morning and officers are looking for answers.
Police were called by someone who walked passed the 400 block of 6 Avenue S.E. around 1:20 a.m. and reported a man in medical distress on the sidewalk.
“Despite lifesaving efforts from witnesses and first responders, the man was transported to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,” police said.
Evidence gathered at the scene suggests the man died as a result of a “fatal altercation,” according to police. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.
If deemed a homicide, the man’s death would be Calgary’s 23rd homicide and the second in three days.
Police have yet to learn the man’s identity. Officers are now canvassing the neighbourhood to search for clues and speak to potential witnesses leading up to the man’s death.
Officers are also seeking security camera footage in the area.
Anyone with information can contact Calgary at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
Chaz Smith, CEO of Be The Change YYC, said he is worried the man who was found without identification could be one of his outreach clients.
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“These are areas where our folks experiencing homelessness are often at, and so my concern immediately is, ‘Was that one of our clients?’” Smith told Global News.
“When they’re outside all night long and they don’t have access to housing or four walls to go and be safe, that’s ultimately my concern.”
He said with similar assaults in recent memory, the need for community support of vulnerable populations also comes to mind.
“We have seen in the past where folks experiencing homelessness were beaten at train stations a few months back,” he said. “So this isn’t something unheard of, and I would hope that this is absolutely not something that’s happening (right now).
“But ultimately, we’re all community members and we need to be protecting each other.”
An ongoing battle of perceptions
Tuesday’s fatal assault continues to impact perceptions around safety in the East Village.
Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong said his office hears regularly from people who live in the area and said their concerns about their neighbourhood’s reputation can’t be discounted.
“The fact people are reaching out to us is a call to action for our council and administration, as well as Calgary Police to take action on the situation,” Wong told Global News.
According to CPS data, there have been 147 reports of non-domestic violent crime in the East Village between January and August this year. During the same time period last year, there were 145.
Of those calls, 113 were non-domestic assaults in 2022 compared to 125 during the same time period in 2021.
However, disorder calls have increased to 1,751 between January and August this year, compared to 1,419 during the same time period last year.
But there is work underway to address community safety in the East Village that some community advocates said are paying dividends.
Earlier this year, the City of Calgary opened a Community Safety Hub in the St. Louis Hotel building in East Village, to serve as a place for police to connect with other resources to address various concerns in the neighbourhood.
“For me personally, I haven’t noticed as many problems in the area,” Arriva condo board president Serene Yew told Global News. “But just having that presence there gives the residents a lot of peace of mind.”
Wong said recent funding for homeless care resources still needs time to “sink in,” to see what kind of impact those initiatives have on community safety in the area.
Meanwhile, the East Village Neighbourhood Association said it is working to foster a sense of community in the area, in an effort to improve potential perceptions of the neighbourhood.
“Recognizing your neighbours so you have an ongoing sense that you’re not always among strangers,” association president Ken Peach told Global News. “All those perceptions help in terms of feeling safe in a community.”
Founded to lead the creation of East Village, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation said the neighbourhood has experienced “the evolving needs in the community to address safety.”
“We are deeply committed to the long-term success and vision for the community, and have continual involvement with our municipal and provincial partners along with CPS and outreach providers to support and advocate for comprehensive strategies to address safety,” CMLC CEO Kate Thompson said in a statement. “Today’s events underscore the importance of the continual support and investment required to mitigate these concerns.”
–with files from Adam Toy, Global News
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