Joshua Briere stabbed to death in 16th homicide of 2016
A 26-year-old man died of his injuries after being stabbed several times on Clyde Avenue early Saturday morning in what Ottawa police are calling a targeted attack.
Police confirmed the man who died is Joshua Briere.
His death marks the 16th homicide of 2016.
Police were called to 1098 Clyde Ave., near Castle Hill Crescent, around 2:30 a.m., where a man was found critically injured outside the house. He died in hospital.
Ottawa police Staff Sgt. Bruce Pirt said the man was known to police.
Police are searching for two suspects and swept the scene for evidence.
"There was some sort of an event that happened there — we don't know if it was related to a party that was going on or if this was just a social gathering of some sort, but something happened," he said Saturday.
"We're trying to piece it together to find out the exact series of events that led to this."
Residents say neighbourhood is quiet
Neighbours who didn't want to be identified told CBC News that two men moved into the main floor apartment of 1098 Clyde Ave. this summer and that there were cars coming and going at all hours of the day. Another couple lived in the upstairs apartment, according to a neighbour.
Dennis Ketchum lives nearby and said he didn't hear anything Saturday morning. He didn't realize what happened until he saw the police tape and cruisers outside.
"I feel devastated. Nobody likes to see anybody lose their life, especially a young man," said Ketchum, who said he has a son around the same age as Briere.
"It's heartbreaking," he said. "I don't know what happened here ... but it doesn't matter. A young man lost his life and there's no excuse for that whatsoever."
Courtney Brown has lived in the area for eight years and describes the neighbourhood as quiet.
He said he doesn't plan on telling his young children what happened just across the street from their family home.
"They won't really understand much, so I'm not going to tell them much," said Brown.
