A man is charged with second-degree murder in the death of a university student Thursday in a west Ottawa apartment.
Neighbours told the Sun the two were roomates. Shortly after 3 a.m., on Thursday several tenants awoke to screams.
“I heard screaming, yelling and commotion,” said Kyle Soikie, who lives on the second floor. He said he looked out his window to see what was going on, but didn’t immediately see anything.
Zhao was found with lacerations to his neck and face, as well as head trauma, said sources. He was found lying in a pool of blood, and a bloody knife was seized nearby. The half-naked suspect, with a bloody face, was arrested at the scene.
“They seemed to be very calm, nice people,” said El Idrissi. “It was very shocking. I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news.”
This is Ottawa's seventh homicide of 2012.