Police have yet to release many details on a suspicious death in Saskatoon Saturday morning, but a witness who saw the altercation describes the incident as a brutal act of violence.
Officers were called to the Northwoods Inn and Suites on Idylwyld Drive North early Saturday. An injured man in the parking lot was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, but pronounced dead just after 7 a.m.
Police said they consider the death suspicious, but have released few details. A witness, who does not want to be identified, told CTV he saw three men confront another man in the parking lot. One of the three men pushed him and when the victim fell to the ground, one man jumped on him.
“As soon as he fell over on his back, the other guy jumped on top of him and it looked like he was sticking something in his head, like around his ear or his forehead or something like that,” the witness said.
“It wasn’t a punch. You would punch straight on. He was coming from the side and he was sticking something in his head.”
The altercation happened around 6:30 a.m. Three men fled the scene, said the witness, who knew immediately the victim was badly injured.
“He actually got up, took a couple steps, and he went completely limp. He just fell like a tree,” the witness said. “The other three guys, they ran.”
Police said the victim was a 42-year-old man.
Several neighbours told CTV they heard screaming shortly before police arrived.
The witness said he fears for his safety after watching the altercation. He plans to move from the area as soon as possible.
“I’m very concerned with my safety and my family’s safety and I’m getting out of here as soon as I can,” he said.
Officers from the Saskatoon police major crime and forensic units are investigating.
