Assault at Alpha House now classified homicide

An assault at Alpha House last week has resulted in what Calgary police say is the city’s first homicide of 2020.

A routine autopsy into the death of an unidentified male on New Year’s Day determined his cause of death to be a homicide and police were alerted the following day.

An investigation determined the victim had been in an altercation at the Alpha House site on 15th Avenue S.E. at about 6:50 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

Alpha House staff reported the assault to police. Following the altercation, however, the call to police was cancelled at the request of the victim, who was believed to be OK. Before the man was allowed into the shelter, he was assessed by EMS, according to Kathy Christiansen, executive director of Alpha House, a non-profit homeless shelter for those with substance addictions.

When Alpha House staff checked on him the following morning, the victim was in medical distress and paramedics were contacted. He died from his injuries at the hospital.

“Following protocol, staff did call EMS to have the victim examined that same evening to ensure he was cleared to stay at the shelter, which he was,” said Christiansen. “In the morning, staff were concerned about his appearance so they called EMS to return.”

Alpha House staff members are working with police for the investigation since they were outside the building where the assault took place, said Christiansen.

“It is a sad and difficult time for our community,” she said.

Police aren’t releasing the name of the victim until next of kin is notified. Investigators say they have a person of interest in the case.

Meanwhile, investigators are continuing to look into several other recent deaths in the city.

■ An autopsy is scheduled Tuesday for a man found in medical distress in the 100 block of 11th Avenue S.E. early Sunday morning. Investigators are reviewing CCTV to determine how many people were involved in the assault.

■ The identity of a man whose body was found engulfed in flames at Fish Creek Park early Sunday remains unknown as investigators have yet to determine how he died. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.

■ Meanwhile, police have declared the death of an unidentified 48-year-old man inside a 9th Avenue S.E. four-plex on Dec. 27 a non-culpable homicide, meaning charges will not be laid. Calgary police said in a statement that a non-culpable homicide can include situations in which death results from an accident or in self-defence.

It’s believed the 48-year-old man assaulted a 39-year-old man at a gathering in the residence and that the older man sustained fatal injuries in the confrontation.