As police release new information about the mysterious killing of Dale Lusk in Metcalfe last month, neighbours say the 66-year-old’s death has left a gaping hole in their rural community.
Lusk was stabbed in broad daylight on Sept. 23 on Ira Morgan Way, the street where he lived. Neighbours say it’s normally a quiet, safe and secluded corner of rural south Ottawa.
“Everybody’s just shocked. We have no answers, no answers at all. No idea,” said Joanne Taylor, a longtime neighbour and friend of Lusk’s.
Lusk was on his way to an appointment around 11 a.m. that morning, according to an online fundraiser created to support his family. Police say he was driving his truck.
“I was actually outside when he left his driveway, waved and just kind of watched him go down the road, and then I heard sirens not that long later,” Taylor said.
Lusk was transported to hospital in critical condition. His injuries were not initially considered life-threatening, but two weeks later he succumbed to his wounds.
Video shows suspect vehicle
The Ottawa Police Service’s homicide unit is investigating Lusk’s death, and on Thursday asked for the public’s help to identify a suspect vehicle and at least two of its occupants.
According to the lead investigator in the case, Lusk pulled over a short distance from his home and “interacted” with a light grey or silver sedan.
“During this interaction, the front passenger of the sedan entered Mr. Lusk’s vehicle and attacked him, stabbing him before fleeing the scene in the same sedan,” police said in a news release.
Police also shared a statement from Lusk’s family begging for any information.
“He was a dedicated father, a loving husband, and a cherished member of our family,” it said. “His sudden and senseless death has left a void in our hearts that can never be filled.”
Remembered for his generosity
Neighbours are also mourning his loss and remembering Lusk as someone who was widely loved and always willing to lend a hand.
“He’s the first guy who would stop and say, ‘Hey, what’s wrong? Can I help you? You need a boost? Anything, I’m there for you,'” Scott said.
Geo Scott, Lusk’s neighbour for 25 years, said Lusk always waved as he passed by on his tractors, or would stop to chat and catch up. (Emma Weller/CBC)
Lusk, whom police originally named as Roger Dale Lusk, was previously a chief custodian with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. He was known as someone who loved using machines — snow plows, lawn mowers, rototillers — helping neighbours whenever needed.
“When my kids were younger, he would push snow up and make a snow pile so they could toboggan down,” Scott said. “So just a great guy that was around the neighborhood.”
Another neighbour, Tatjana Letunica, said Lusk kept so busy he “didn’t actually” seem retired, although he was.
Whether it was helping build her garden or her children’s playground, Letunica said Lusk was always the person neighbours turned to for assistance and advice.
Another neighbour said Lusk was known locally as “MacGyver” after the TV series because he’d always find a way to fix things.
“He was an amazing person,” Letunica said. “He’s gonna be missed here for sure.”
Tatjana Letunica, a neighbour of Lusk’s for 20 years, said he helped her build her garden and a playground for her children. (Emma Weller/CBC)
The tragedy has left neighbours in shock, and questioning how something like this could happen in their midst.
“I hope that they can find the people who did this and bring justice to it because he deserves it, said Geo Scott, Lusk’s neighbour of 25 years. “[He was] taken away from us when he shouldn’t have been.”
“It’s really terrible that something like that can happen here,” Letunica said. “This for sure [will] shake this neighborhood.”