A 23-year-old young man was the victim of an altercation in downtown Sherbrooke on Friday night. The police are still looking for a suspect.
The incident occurred as part of an argument that allegedly broke out around 3:30 a.m. in an alley in front of the town hall.
The young man was injured in the head and was bleeding profusely, says Sherbrooke Police Department public relations officer Benoît Pellerin.
We don’t know how the injury was caused. Is it with an object, a knife, a fist? Everything has to be decided now. The investigation is ongoing, he explains.
Several meters of blood stains were scattered across the ground outside shops on Wellington Street North on Saturday morning.
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The city of Sherbrooke cleaned the streets later in the morning.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Zoé Bellehumour
The victim, who was hospitalized following the incident, left the hospital later on Saturday. The authorities are not afraid for his life. He must be received by the investigators soon.
Looking for suspects
The police are looking for one or more suspects in this case, emphasizes Benoît Pellerin. What charges could be brought against those involved has yet to be determined.
No suspects have been arrested at this time. The investigation is progressing well, he confirms.
To allow police officers to investigate, a cordon was set up for several hours, blocking traffic and delaying the opening of several stores.
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Police officers patrolling the city center on Friday evening became aware of the conflict.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Zoé Bellehumour
Claude Couture, an antiques dealer on Wellington Street North, had to postpone the opening of his store due to the police presence. “We know today that anything and anywhere can happen,” he says.
I would say that such events are rare. This is always a shame for those involved. “Otherwise we are in a safe city,” says David Fabi, co-owner of Brûlerie Faro.
Road safety is a priority
The Sherbrooke mayor’s office responded in writing following this fight. Safety on our streets is a priority for our administration, especially in the city center. We find it important to question the causes of this violence together and find answers, we read.
Raïs Kibonge, councilor in the Lac-des-Nations district, is pleased with the rapid response of the police following the recent increase in staff in the city center. It shows that we still have people who are proactive. “We are not waiting for things to get out of control before we intervene,” he emphasizes.
We want the revitalization of the city center. “We want there to be more going on, but we also want people to feel safe,” assures the local council.
He will be at Saint-Michel Cathedral on September 30 to talk to citizens about life and safety in the neighborhood.
With information from Zoé Bellehumour