Hamilton police identify man killed in stabbing
Officials say Christopher La Rose was visiting a unit at an east Hamilton motel where he got into a fight
Hamilton police have identified a Brampton man who was fatally stabbed during a fight inside of a room at the Red Rose Motel on Sunday morning in the city’s east end.
In a release Monday, police said Christopher La Rose, 40, of Brampton is the city’s 10th homicide victim of the year. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday in Toronto.
La Rose managed to flee the 18-room motel, at 553 Queenston Rd., on foot and made it a couple of hundred metres east before collapsing on the sidewalk, police said.
A witness saw the man in distress and called 911 around 9:46 a.m., said Det. Daryl Reid, of the major crime unit, case manager for the homicide investigation, when speaking to reporters Sunday evening.
When police arrived, La Rose was on the sidewalk in front of an apartment building at 575 Queenston Rd., near Nash Road. He was later pronounced dead in hospital.
At the scene Sunday, blood was smeared on a bus shelter
and on the ground in front of the apartment building. Police placed multiple yellow evidence tags marking debris and blood on the sidewalk leading to the motel room. A large stretch of the road was closed as police were on scene.
In their update Monday, police said La Rose was visiting the motel when an unidentified suspect entered the unit and “engaged in a physical altercation with him.” There were more than two people involved in an altercation inside the unit when the stabbing happened, according to Reid.
La Rose was stabbed during the fight, and both he and the suspect fled the motel, police said. Police have not provided details on why La
Rose was at the motel or whether a weapon has been recovered.
Investigators believe the attack was targeted.
Multiple residents in the neighbourhood said the motel has a reputation for trouble, including drugs.
“When you see drugs through, OK, you can deal with that. No one bothers us. But when someone gets killed, it’s like, ‘Woah,’ ” said a Hamilton resident who didn’t want their name used because they stay at the motel regularly and were concerned speaking out could jeopardize that.
The person said they never saw La Rose at the motel before.
“And I almost see everyone who comes and goes,” they said.
Police are combing through surveillance video from the area to identify suspects believed to be involved in the altercation.
Three police vehicles — including a forensics van — could be seen at the rear of the motel Monday afternoon.
Red Rose declined to comment on the homicide and said it is still accepting new guests.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Andrew Coughlan by calling 905-546-3874.
To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477 or visit crimestoppershamilton.com. Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com Sebastian Bron is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbron@thespec.com