RCMP say early morning hit and run in Moncton was a homicide
Shane Magee | CBC News | Posted: March 12, 2021 4:10 PM | Last Updated: March 12, 2021
Police say 19-year-old Moncton man purposely hit by driver who fled
RCMP say a 19-year-old man was purposely struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle in a parking lot off Elmwood Drive in Moncton on Friday.
Codiac Regional RCMP were called to the parking lot outside Dooly's pool hall at 3:50 a.m. to a report of a vehicle that had struck a pedestrian.
The Moncton man, whose name has not been released, died of his injuries.
"Investigators have determined that his death is the result of a homicide," RCMP said in a news release issued Friday afternoon. "Police were able to determine that the driver of the vehicle purposely struck the pedestrian."
There's no indication yet why the man may have been purposely hit.
"It's still early in the investigation," RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Hans Ouellette said in an interview.
Asked if the victim and driver knew each other, Ouellette said it "seems to be an isolated incident, and it was not a random incident."
RCMP say the suspect fled the area in a dark-coloured vehicle before police arrived.
No further description of the vehicle was available Friday afternoon.
Asked if police have a specific suspect, Ouellette said police are still investigating that and asked anyone with information to call police or Crime Stoppers.
Police had previously said officers were investigating a fatal hit-and-run.
The RCMP's collision reconstruction and forensic identification units were taking photos and bagging items in a parking lot outside Dooly's pool hall Friday morning.
Two shoes and what appeared to be a backpack could be seen in the parking lot several metres from the body, which was partly covered by blankets.
Police are asking anyone who saw activity around 411 Elmwood Dr. between 3:30 a.m. to 4 a.m., or other information that may help investigators, to call police or Crime Stoppers.