EDMONTON - Edmonton police have confirmed the death of a man downtown Wednesday night, is the city's first homicide of the year. However, the cause of the man's death has not yet been determined.
Police were called to the Capital Tower apartment building located at 10028- 106 Avenue, around 8:40 Wednesday night. The call was in response to a sudden death.
When officers arrived on scene they found an unresponsive man on the eighth floor of the building. Officers have confirmed the victim is a 50-year-old man.
"There was some obvious signs of trauma to the body," explained Inspector Brian Nowlan with the Edmonton Police Service, "He was in the suite. He was accompanied by a female approximately the same age, she is not injured. She was the one that called EMS, who then called us."
Detectives from EPS Homicide Section are leading the investigation. The person who reported the death was on-scene when police arrived and is being interviewed. She is not considered a suspect at this time.
Witnesses say there was an altercation at a nearby pub just minutes prior to EMS arriving on scene. Police were unable to confirm whether or not the incident was related to the man's death.
Nowlan says the area is familiar to officers.
"It's low income, very transient people coming and going. It's notorious for a lot of drug use, violence," Nowlan explained.
Despite its reputation, residents of the area say police are doing their best to improve the safety and security of the neighbourhood.
"I've lived here for two years," says Georgina Fiddler, "and absolutely there has been an improvement since when I first started living here and working here."
She says the area has particular issues "given the dynamics of the neighbourhood, and this area is challenged because of the influx of people that are drawn here for social services," adding there are three different social agencies within a four block area.
"The agencies, the police, residents, community members as a whole, we need to work together to make this work," stresses Fiddler.
She and a small group of area residents met with the police chief in the summer to discuss ways of strengthening the community.
Police had the entire Capital Tower building cordoned off Wednesday evening, as they continued their investigation. Residents of the building were being escorted in and out by officers.
"There is activity around that area," says Fiddler. "Milla Pub is right across the street. It's a bad area, and I know that the police are doing everything they can but you know, they can't be there 24/7."
The victim's name is not being released at this time.
Homicide detectives are currently speaking with witnesses and interviewing several persons of interest. However. police are asking anyone with information to call the EPS complaint line at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone.
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2013.