The year 2023 saw five homicides reported in the Greater Sudbury area.
That’s a much more typical figure for this area than the number of homicides reported in 2022, when Statistics Canada confirmed there were 10 homicide victims in Greater Sudbury. Greater Sudbury Police also reported in 2022 two vehicular manslaughter cases in the city, which are considered to be homicides, although those cases do not appear to be included in the Statistics Canada figures for 2022.
In the past 10 years, Statistics Canada reported one homicide in both 2013 and 2014, two in 2015, zero in 2016, one in both 2017 and 2018, three in 2019, five in 2020 and six in 2021, showing an increase in homicides in more recent years.
The figures provided by Statistics Canada only go back to 1981, and in that more than four-decade-long window, the largest number of local homicide victims in a single year is reported to be 11 back in 1987.
Greater Sudbury actually had the third-highest homicide rate in 2022 among Canadian cities with a population of at least 100,000 people, with a homicide rate of 5.83 per 100,000 people.
The highest homicide rate in 2022 was in Thunder Bay, with a homicide rate of 12.05 per 100,000 people, and the second highest in Winnipeg, with a homicide rate of 6.10 per 100,000 people.
Statistics Canada said that in 2022, police services across Canada reported 874 homicides, 78 more than in the previous year. The national homicide rate rose by eight per cent to 2.25 homicides per 100,000 population, representing a fourth consecutive yearly increase.
The homicide rate is widely considered a key metric for assessing the state of violence in society. Despite recent increases, homicides remain a rare event in Canada, accounting for less than 0.2 per cent of all police-reported violent crimes in 2022.
Below is a summary of the homicides in Greater Sudbury in 2023:
Emad Ali murder
Four people have been charged — two of them with murder — in the death of 31-year-old missing person Emad Ali. Greater Sudbury Police put out a missing persons notice for Ali in early 2023. On April 14, Greater Sudbury Police detectives located Ali’s body in a wooded area off Dryden Road in Greater Sudbury. Through the investigation, it is believed that Ali was murdered in November 2022 and his body was dumped in the wooded area. Four individuals were arrested and charged in this case. Joel Roy, 33, was charged with murder, indignity to a body, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and unauthorized possession of a firearm. Kevin Lamoureaux, 43, was charged with murder and indignity to a body. Joshua Lavallie, 33, was charged with indignity to a body and accessory after the fact to murder. Michelle Zazulak, 33, was charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Roy has also been charged with two counts of first degree murder for the double shooting murder at the Travelodge Hotel which occurred Dec. 20, 2022. A spokesperson for Greater Sudbury Police said that although it’s believed Ali was murdered in 2022, his killing will be counted towards the city’s 2023 homicide statistics, as his body was discovered in 2023.
Overtime Sports Bar and Grill shooting
A 22-year-old man was fatally shot at Overtime Sports Bar and Grill on Notre Dame Avenue April 21. Multiple suspects were involved in a verbal altercation leading up to one of the involved people shooting the victim. The victim sustained serious, life-threatening injuries, and was taken to hospital by paramedics. He succumbed to his injuries in hospital and was pronounced deceased by medical professionals. The suspect fled the area prior to police arrival. A 16-year-old was arrested for first-degree murder, among other charges, by Toronto Police Service April 29. The youth suspect’s name cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. A second suspect, Noah Singh, 19, is also wanted for first-degree murder in the case.
Garson double stabbing
Greater Sudbury Police responded to reports of a serious assault in the area of Falconbridge Road and Racicot Drive in Garson in the early morning of June 14. When officers arrived at the scene, they reported finding two young people who had sustained serious, life-threatening injuries. Both were transported to Health Sciences North by Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services. One of the youths, a 17-year-old, died of his injuries. A second youth was sent to hospital, and was listed in stable condition. The two young people sought by Greater Sudbury Police in relation to the double stabbing later turned themselves into police. The 16-year-old is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. The 17-year-old is charged with two counts of assault and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Neither suspect can be named, as both are young offenders.
Louis Street shooting
A verbal argument during a social gathering Aug. 7 led to the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Andrew Mackey. Greater Sudbury Police were dispatched to a weapons complaint on Louis Street. “Information provided was that while at a social gathering, individuals were involved in a verbal argument that resulted in one of the individuals being shot,” according to police. At the scene, police found that Mackey had sustained serious injuries. “Officers began life-saving measures until City of Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services arrived,” said police. Mackey was taken to Health Sciences North, and later pronounced deceased. David Pusey, 28, has been charged with second-degree murder, among other charges. A second suspect, Dominique Buledi, 25, was not charged with murder, but is facing multiple other charges, including unauthorized possession of a firearm. In their statement, police describe the incident as targeted, with the individuals involved known to each other.
Carol Fournier murder
On Nov. 8, the body of 40-year-old Carol Fournier was found in a wooded area west of McNeill Boulevard. The woman’s death was treated as a homicide investigation. Three days later, Nov. 11, the body of 47-year-old Rick Jones, who was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant, was found in the same wooded area. Greater Sudbury Police said a post-mortem was to be conducted, but foul play was not suspected in Jones’ death. "In consultation with Carol’s family, we can confirm that prior to her being murdered, she was in a relationship with Rick Jones and both outstanding arrest warrants for Rick were for Intimate Partner Violence incidents involving Carol,” said police.
Heidi Ulrichsen is a journalist with Sudbury.com.
