Man found dead, suspect truck set ablaze in north Edmonton

A homicide investigation is underway after a man was found dead inside a truck in north Edmonton early Tuesday morning. The investigation also involves a burnt-out truck found several blocks away a short time later.

At about 1:30 a.m., police received reports of gunshots in the area of 94th Street and 145th Avenue. Police arrived to find a dead man in the driver’s seat of a black truck.

Later Tuesday morning, police tape cordoned off a section of the road in the Evansdale neighbourhood. Several police officers remained at the scene, and a black barrier was set up blocking part of the driver’s side of the truck.

Police said the death is considered suspicious and homicide detectives have taken over the investigation. An autopsy has yet to be scheduled.

Police said witnesses told officers they saw a white truck fleeing the area early Tuesday morning.

A short time later, a white truck was found on fire in the area of 106th Street and 155th Avenue in the Beaumaris neighbourhood.

Police said investigators have determined the truck was stolen on Monday, March 18. Anyone who saw the truck — driving or parked — between March 18 and Tuesday morning is asked to contact police.

Police said the white truck had visible red tape along the rear passenger tail light.

“While there are many white GMC trucks in the city, we are hopeful that someone may recognize this truck’s unique tail light whether it was driving on a roadway or noticeably parking for a period of time,” Staff Sgt. Rob Bilawey with the EPS homicide section said in a news release.

Anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage from the area of 94th Street and 145th Avenue between 1 a.m. and 1:40 a.m. Tuesday, or from the area of 106th Street and 155th Avenue between 1:30 a.m. and 1:45 a.m. is asked to contact Edmonton police at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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