Edmonton police said an investigation was underway into the death of a man following a vicious assault north of the downtown core over the weekend.
Reports indicated that the two men were walking on 97 Street in the area of 119 Avenue at about 3:20 a.m. Sunday, when six people approached; four men and two women, who were not known to them.
It’s alleged the suspects tried to start a fight with the two men, who ignored them and walked away.
At this point, reports indicated the suspects assaulted the two men, and repeatedly punched one of them in the face, while pushing the other one to the ground and then kicking in the head.
It’s believed the suspects then fled on foot, leaving one of the two men unconscious on the ground, the other suffering from minor injuries.
Paramedics arrived on scene, managed to revive the unconscious male, before taking him to hospital. He succumbed to his injuries Sunday afternoon.
An autopsy of the deceased has been conducted, and the Medical Examiner has confirmed Leonardo Duran Ibanez, 42, of Colombia, died as a result of injuries consistent with severe head trauma.
Police said Ibanez’s death is Edmonton’s 40th homicide of 2016.
