Police are asking for the public’s help in tracking the movements of a 32-year-old man who was fatally stabbed in North York over the weekend.
On Sunday, emergency crews were called to Highway 400 and Finch Avenue West at around 3 a.m. where they found a man, believed to be in his 20s, in medical distress.
According to Toronto Police Det. Sgt. Terry Browne, the man drove himself to Humber River Hospital’s Finch Avenue site -- while “bleeding significantly” from an apparent stab wound -- only to find it closed. Browne clarified that the hospital no longer functions as a critical care hospital and had been closed since approximately 6 p.m.
“He was banging on the door, requesting assistance,” Browne told reporters at a news conference Monday. “The security officer that was working called 9-1-1. Emergency medical services arrived in short order and he was transported to another hospital where unfortunately he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.”
Police identified the victim as 32-year-old Thornhill resident Vitaliy Ferynskyy.
They said a post-mortem examination is currently underway.
Browne believes the victim’s “very significant injury” was likely sustained with an “edged weapon” within a short period of time prior to his arrival at the hospital.
“He was conscious and alert when we arrived and was certainly able to provide us some valuable information. Of course, I’m not able to relay what he was able to share with us. That’s just one aspect of the investigation we’re looking into,” Browne said.
“What we’re trying to do is narrow his movements from the evening of Saturday and into Sunday morning.”
Investigators are asking for businesses and residents in the immediate vicinity of Humber River Hospital on Finch Avenue West, just east of Highway 400, who may have surveillance cameras or dashboard cameras on their vehicles to check their footage for the victim’s vehicle.
Fernskyy drove himself to the hospital in a black, four-door, 2010 model Hyundai Sonata.
Police describe the deceased as a white male who is approximately six-foot-three with short hair. He was last seen wearing a dark brown wool bomber jacket with white fleece lining on the inside, a blue jacket underneath, charcoal or black coloured track pants, and “very distinctive” red running shoes.
“If anyone has any knowledge about his movements that evening, if you know him personally and had contact with him, or you own security videos in the areas I’ve just described, please have a look and see if you’ve captured something and we’ll certainly come and obtain the video from you,” Browne said.
“Please do not limit the area just to Finch Avenue. Use the Humber River Hospital as a marker and take about five minutes from there. If you are within that five minute range of a drive, please check your video and let us know if you see something.”
Though it’s still unclear where exactly the stabbing took place, Browne said investigators haven’t ruled out that the incident could have occurred in the vehicle.
Investigators are also looking to speak with anyone who had direct contact with Ferynskyy any time after 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 or anyone who may other relevant information to this investigation.
Browne added that Fernskyy was known to police but that his history with law enforcement was “dated.”
“There’s nothing that we’ve learned in our investigation at this point that suggests that he in fact would have been involved in any criminal activity that would have put himself at risk,” he said.
Anyone with information is being asked to call police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
