Toronto police says its homicide unit is investigating after a 21-year-old man died in hospital early Saturday morning following what police believe was an altercation involving multiple people in the city’s Corso-Italia neighbourhood.
Officers responded to a call for an injured person around 2:50 a.m. at the intersection of St. Clair and Nairn avenues, just east of Lansdowne Avenue, Det. Sgt. Brandon Price of the homicide and missing persons unit told reporters Saturday.
Police found a man, 21, suffering from what appeared to be stab wounds, Price said. The man was taken to a local trauma centre, Price said, but he died of his injuries.
Price said police believe the man was injured in an altercation on the corner. He said police believe at least five people were part of the altercation, but that has not been confirmed.
“We know that there’s numerous people involved. So there could be other injured parties,” Price said.
He said there are many bars in the area, but police are still trying to determine whether the altercation may have begun inside a local establishment, Price said.
The investigation is in its early stages and police could not provide more details Saturday afternoon, Price said.
Police are speaking with multiple witnesses now, and are asking anyone with more information or video footage of the area to come forward. Price said police believe there were multiple witnesses in the area at the time of the incident who have not been in contact with police.
Police are still trying to contact the victim’s next-of-kin before releasing more details about his identity, Price said.
Police say the incident was the 84th homicide in Toronto this year.
St. Clair Avenue W. is closed between Lansdowne Avenue and Earlscourt Avenue. Nairn Avenue is closed between Ascot Avenue and St. Clair Avenue W.