Quebec City police announced in a press conference on Tuesday morning that the man discovered unconscious in a burning apartment building over the weekend and later pronounced dead was a victim of homicide. The deceased, identified as Ahmed Yassir Ismaili-Alaoui, aged 42, passed away on January 3. Firefighters responded to a call reporting flames at his residence on St-Mathias Street in the Saint-Sauveur neighborhood. Upon arrival, they found Ismaili-Alaoui unconscious in a bedroom. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, he was declared dead after being transported to the hospital.
A spokesperson for the Service de police de la Ville de Québec (SPVQ) stated that the police have established a command post in the vicinity until 8 p.m. and urge anyone with even minor information to come forward. Individuals can also contact the police through the tip line at 418-641-AGIR, or 1-888-641-AGIR for those outside Quebec City.
William Robitaille from SPVQ mentioned that Ismaili-Alaoui, who used an electric scooter, hailed from Morocco and had limited proficiency in French. The police are seeking insights into his background to aid in the investigation. Following the autopsy results, it was determined that Ismaili-Alaoui’s death was due to homicide, not the fire, which has been determined as arson. The specific cause of death was not disclosed. This incident marks the first homicide case in Quebec City for the year.
