THUNDER BAY — Police have identified the victim of the city's fourth homicide this year, and have named the person accused of taking his life.
On June 1 at approximately 3 a.m., a passerby found an unresponsive man at the Kaministiquia River Heritage Park.
Thirty-four-year-old Francis Joseph Valle was later pronounced deceased in hospital.
At a news conference Monday, the Thunder Bay Police Service revealed they have charged Thunder Bay resident Joshua Christian Peter Diamond, 39, with second-degree murder.
Diamond was arrested Sunday and appeared in court Monday. He was remanded into custody with a future appearance date.
Det. Insp. Jeremy Pearson said police believe the two men knew each other. Police confirmed both men were known to frequent and stay in the area near the encampment at Kaministiquia River Heritage Park, although they could not confirm how long or how often they would stay there.
"The investigation does not reveal any connection to the illicit drug trade at this time," said Pearson, who confirmed a weapon was involved but it was not a gun.
Police can't identify the type of weapon because "the weapon itself remains part of the ongoing investigation," he said.
Pearson said they don't believe the incident was gang related.
Officers were led to Diamond after doing canvassing, conducting witness statements, and "reviewing all the physical evidence they have at their disposal."
Pearson also thanked the public for cooperating by providing more information.
"I would like to publicly thank all of those people who came forward and spoke to us either as witnesses or simply as interested parties who felt they may have some information to offer."
Pearson said the investigation is ongoing. He encouraged anyone who saw anything "out of the ordinary" on June 1 between 1 and 3 a.m. to contact police.
"It may not have even seemed suspicious to them, but something that caught their attention could be valuable to our investigators as well."
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call TBPS at (807) 684-1200.
Tips may also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com.
This is the city's fourth murder this year. Pearson confirmed arrests have been made in all of the murders that happened this year.
