A 24-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of a man found on a sidewalk in the city’s Church and Wellesley neighbourhood, Toronto police have confirmed.
Ramsey Whitefish, 42, was found on Gloucester Street, west of Church Street, at around midnight after officers received a report that a man had collapsed outside a highrise apartment building.
He was found suffering from obvious signs of trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.
His family has been notified of his death.
“We do have witnesses who saw the deceased about 15 minutes before the 911 call was placed so we can narrow down quite clearly a timeframe where this incident happened,” Toronto police Det. Paul Worden told reporters Wednesday morning.
“We want to speak to anybody who was in the area of Gloucester Street and Church Street between about 11:30 p.m. and midnight who happened to see the deceased.”
In addition to speaking with witnesses, Worden said that police were canvassing the surrounding area for surveillance camera footage.
“There is quite a bit, camera-wise, that is visible,” Worden said Wednesday morning.
In an update provided Wednesday evening, Worden said that Whitefish lived in a rooming house near where he was found. Police had been called to the rooming house within the last 48 hours regarding a disturbance between Whitefish and his roommate, he said.
Homicide investigators believe Whitefish was attacked by his roommate. A rock found at the scene – roughly the size of a bowling ball – is believed to have been used in the assault, Worden said.
A suspect was arrested after investigators learned that he was appearing at Old City Hall this morning on another matter.
Trevor Severin, of Toronto, is charged with second-degree murder.
He is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
