Ottawa Police have laid a charge in the city's third homicide of 2016.
Police have charged 26-year-old Michael Leblanc with second degree murder following the stabbing death of 19-year-old Mohamed Ali Hassan in an Overbrook Park on Monday night. Leblanc was arrested Tuesday morning and made his first court appearance later that day.
Leblanc has a previous criminal history including a charge for theft under $5000 and possession of stolen property from December 20, 2015.
He was also convicted of theft and sentenced to pay more than $6300 in restitution in May of 2012.
A search warrant was executed at Leblanc’s residence in the 400 block of King George Street in relation to this incident.
Police say Hassan was stabbed in the Lawson Park area of King George Street in the Overbrook neighborhood around 9:30 Monday night. Hassan was sent to hospital where he died of his injuries.
Police were on scene Tuesday focusing their investigation on a path next to Queen Mary’s schoolyard.
Hinda Mayammoud lives across the street from Lawson Park. She said she heard police sirens and saw dozens of flashing lights outside her front window on Monday night.
"It's very scary to be honest with you," she said. "I've lived here 19 years and honestly it's caused me a lot of problems, when I think about it, I have kids, and it's very scary,".
Another woman who lives nearby, but did not want to be identified, said she hopes to see more police officers in the neighbourhood.
"If any police were all time around this area, it could be less a chance to happen, or more to see what happened," she said.
In a tweet Ottawa Community Housing said "Tenants safety remains a priority. Increasing O-C-H patrols following recent stabbing in Overbrook area."
Leblanc is scheduled to return to court March 3rd.
