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Mill Street death deemed a homicide

Oct 13, 2017 | 8:42 AM

 

MEDICINE HAT, ALTA-There’s been a murder in the Gas City.

Officers first responded to the scene on Wednesday morning, at the corner of Mill Street SE and Smelter Avenue in the South Flats. Due to the nature of what had taken place, the Major Crimes Unit was called in and the incident was initially said to be “suspicious”.

A business owner along Mill Street previously told CHAT News that the victim had been stabbed, according to residents in the area. The deceased individual had been found by a dogwalker early Wednesday morning.

Police have now confirmed that the deceased man is 64 year old James Satre, of Medicine Hat. His family has been notified.

“The results of the autopsy have determined that the injuries to the deceased were not self-inflicted and not related to a medical event,” read a police statement put out on Friday morning.

“The intersection of Mill Street SE and Smelter Avenue remains closed at this time and the public will be notified when it has re-opened.”

During Friday’s press conference on the homicide, Inspector Brent Secondiak with the Medicine Hat Police Service said what happened to Satre was a “cowardly attack”, due to Satre’s age and the circumstances of the incident.

“I think all homicides are violent in nature,” said Secondiak.

“I wouldn’t say it was a prolonged incident, we assume that it was shorter in duration. I don’t think this was a fight, I think this was simply a cowardly attack.”

Secondiak said Satre was not known to police, and had been running a small business in the city. Officers are currently probing into Satre’s life, and it’s believed he had lived in Medicine Hat for the past ten years.

A motive for the homicide is not yet known by police, and they are not releasing details of the exact cause of death at this time. Secondiak also indicated that at this point, there are no suspects in Satre’s death.

Preliminary results from the medical examiner are expected in the coming days, with the exact time of death yet to be determined.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the MHPS Major Crimes Section at 403-529-8420 or provide a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.