Toronto stabbing suspect dead after falling from balcony while attempting to flee scene

One person is in hospital following a stabbing in St. James Town and one suspect died while allegedly fleeing from the scene. CP24’s Allison Hurst reports.

Police say one person was stabbed inside a downtown Toronto building Friday morning, while the suspect later died after attempting to flee the scene.

Toronto police say officers responded at about 11 a.m. to reports of a stabbing near Bleecker and Wellesley streets.

When officers arrived, they located a victim suffering from stab wounds.

Paramedics say that the victim was subsequently taken to the hospital in serious but stable condition.

Police say while officers were tending to the victim, they were notified the suspect was attempting to flee the area.

During the attempted escape, the suspect was involved in an accident and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Footage from CP24’s chopper on Friday morning shows a significant police presence outside of a high-rise building.

It is not clear if the suspect was being pursued by officers at the time.

Hours later, the province’s police watchdog invoked its mandate and said it will investigate the death of a 52-year-old man.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said as some officers were administering first aid, others knocked on a door of an apartment unit.

Through the door, the officers had a conversation with a man, the SIU said.

“A short time later, officers learned that the man had fallen from a balcony to the ground below. First aid was administered, but the man succumbed to his injuries at the scene,” the SIU said.

The agency has assigned three investigators and two forensic investigators to the case.

The SIU is an arm’s-length agency called in to investigate whenever police are involved in a death, serious injury, allegations of sexual assault, or the discharge of a weapon.