Toronto police have identified the man who was fatally stabbed after being chased up Yonge Street by a group of men in the city’s downtown core earlier this week.
Simon Zerezghi was being chased by a group of people northbound on Yonge Street, just south of Wellesley Street, shortly after 8 p.m. on Jan. 29.
The initial called placed to police indicated that there were at least 10 people chasing Zerezghi.
At some point during the pursuit, police said Zerezghi was stabbed in the chest.
“The information was that there was a man who was running from a bunch of people and that he had been stabbed,” Toronto police Const. Jenifferjit Sidhu said. “Police arrived on scene and located a man who appeared to have stab wounds.”
The 25-year-old, who police said was homeless, was coherent and alert when paramedics arrived but later died of his injuries.
According to a witness, Zerezghi collapsed in the middle of Yonge Street as the suspects fled.
“They were running up and chasing him and then the guy was trying to run away from them,” Jason, who witnessed the ordeal, told CTV News Toronto. “(He) crossed the street, I guess it blocked the cars, and then you see them kick and punch him.”
While a number of witnesses have already come forward to speak with investigators, police are urging anyone else who witnessed the incident or who has cellphone footage to contact investigators or call Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Police have not announced any arrests or released any suspect information so far but say they’ve obtained surveillance camera video, which is expected to be released later this week.
