Canada Day party ends with bloodshed
Man dies after being stabbed Sunday night near City Hall in downtown Kelowna
Pools of blood next to a tree at the Queensway bus loop Monday morning marked the place where a man was killed following Canada Day celebrations the night before.
Police were called around 10:50 p.m. Sunday to the 1400 block of Water Street, next to City Hall, where they found a man on the ground.
He had suffered life-threatening stab wounds in an altercation and was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“Kelowna RCMP are looking to speak with anyone who was in the vicinity of City Hall on Queensway across from O’Flannigan’s Liquor Store between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.,” said Const. Lesley Smith in a news release issued early Monday.
Initially, police didn’t know who the dead man was and hoped someone could help identify him.
But, just after 6:30 p.m., a followup release said the man had been identified as 23-year-old Esa Carriere, who recently had moved to Kelowna from Mississauga, Ont.
“At this time, our investigators consider the incident an isolated event,” said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.
Police have not said if anyone has been arrested in connection with the homicide or if any suspects have been identified.
On Monday morning, there were no police officers or police tape at the Queensway bus loop. The only sign of activity was a few people waiting for buses.
Kelowna RCMP, along with the BC Coroners Service, continue to investigate Sunday night’s killing.
While they no longer need help identifying the victim, police still want to hear from anyone who saw the altercation as they attempt to establish a timeline for Carriere leading up to his death.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP Serious Crime Unit at 250-762-3300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.