Ottawa man, 55, killed in east end stabbing

A man was killed in a stabbing on St. Laurent Boulevard early Thursday morning. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy reports.

A 55-year-old Ottawa man is dead following a morning stabbing in Ottawa’s east end.

Emergency crews responded to a call for a stabbing in the 500 block of St. Laurent Boulevard, between Brittany Drive and Montreal Road, at 6:50 a.m. Thursday.

An Ottawa Paramedic Service spokesperson told CTV News Ottawa a man was found with stab wounds outside a building on St. Laurent Boulevard. He was transported to hospital in life-threatening condition.

The Ottawa Police Service said the man was pronounced dead in hospital.

On Thursday evening, police identified the victim as Justin James Weir of Ottawa.

No one has been arrested and police did not release a description of any suspects.

“Our investigation has revealed today that this is an isolated incident. We don’t believe that there’s any threat to public safety,” said Staff Sgt. Seth Curtis of the Ottawa Police Service Homicide Unit.

“Our homicide unit members continue to gather evidence, speak to witnesses and obtain video footage of the area.”

Curtis said he was not in a position to “divulge any information about our suspect.”

“Investigators would like to speak with anyone who was in the area of St. Laurent Boulevard, Montreal Road, and Brittany Drive between 11:30 p.m. last night and 1:30 a.m. this morning,” the Ottawa Police Service said in a statement.

“We are asking individuals to check their surveillance cameras or vehicle dash cam footage to determine if any persons were captured during that time.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service’s Homicide Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5493.

“I’m really shocked whenever I hear about a murder in Ottawa,” resident of the area Millicent Smith told CTV News Ottawa.

St. Laurent Boulevard was closed between Montreal Road and Brittany Drive on Thursday due to the investigation.

“You get cop cars around here, but nothing like this. This is the first time,” said Matthew Kingsbury, who lives in the area.

“The roads are going to be closed for several hours, and if we leave, we can’t come back for several hours.”

This is the 14th homicide in Ottawa this year. Police say seven of the 14 homicides have been “determined to be stabbing-related deaths.”

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Natalie van Rooy.