Edmonton police confirmed Thursday that detectives are handling the late night death of a man in a downtown apartment building as suspicious.
Police were called to a downtown apartment block by EMS, at 106 Avenue and 101 Street, just before 9 p.m. Wednesday night.
Officers said a man in his 50s was found unresponsive in a suite on the eighth floor.
“There are some obvious signs of trauma to the body,” EPS Inspector Brian Nowlan said late Wednesday night. “Homicide will be coming out to take over the investigation.”
Nowlan said the apartment building is known to police.
“It’s low income, very transient people coming and going,” Nowlan said at the scene. “[It’s] notorious for lots of drug use and violence.
“It’s an old building, been around for a long time, so it has quite the reputation.”
Homicide detectives took over the investigation overnight – the person who was at the scene when police arrived is being interviewed.
Police said the woman reported the death, but is not considered a suspect.
An autopsy to confirm the identity of the deceased, and determine the cause and manner of death has been scheduled for Friday morning.
If this is deemed a homicide, it would be the first in Edmonton of 2013.
With files from Laura Tupper and David Ewasuk
