murder charge laid in connection with deadly fight outside portico lounge
victim was struck by vehicle before suspect fled scene, police say
1 minute read
police investigate the scene of a deadly fight in front of the portico hookah lounge on 35th street s.e. on monday, sept. 2, 2024.
brent calver/postmedia file
the death of a man after a fight outside a southview hookah lounge three months ago has led to an arrest and a murder charge being laid. police were called to the portico lounge on 35th street s.e. around 5 a.m. on sept. 2 for reports of “multiple individuals” involved in a disturbance outside the establishment.
“upon arrival, officers found evidence of an altercation and signs that someone may have been in medical distress,” police said in a statement released monday afternoon.
police were notified about 20 minutes later that a severely injured man was taken to the peter lougheed centre, where he died.
after an autopsy was conducted, the victim of the fight was identified on sept. 5 as awed tesgay ghebremeskel, 32.
“during that altercation, it is believed the suspect struck the victim with their vehicle before fleeing the area,” calgary police said. “the victim and suspect were not known to each other prior to this incident.”
in an earlier release, police described the incident as a fatal hit-and-run collision.
a black dodge caliber with damage to its rear end on the passenger side sought by law enforcement in connection with ghebremeskel’s death was later found, according to the police service’s latest statement.
advertisement
three months of work by investigators included examining security video recordings, numerous exhibits and the suspect vehicle, in addition to conducting interviews with dozens of witnesses, police said.
calgary police and yellowknife rcmp arrested one person on nov. 25 in connection with ghebremeskel’s slaying. jonathan tewolde, 46, a resident of yellowknife, was charged with second-degree murder. his next court appearance is scheduled for wednesday.
share story
