Fourth murder of the year in Ottawa: police identify victim

Many police cars were parked in the ByWard Market on Tuesday morning. (File photo)

The Ottawa Police Homicide Unit identified the murder victim Wednesday morning on York Street in Ottawa's Byward Market .

Gerald Desjardins, 64, was shot and killed Tuesday morning.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the homicide. They face different charges.

Daniel Chapron, 20, of Gatineau, and Hussein Walid, 20, of Ottawa, face charges of second degree murder and firearms offences.

Merveil Kouassi, 26, of Ottawa, has meanwhile been charged with firearms offences.

All three accused are scheduled to appear in court , Wednesday.

Ottawa Police are asking anyone with information about this homicide to contact them at 613-236-1222 ext. 5493 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or the crimestoppers website. ca.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe

< p class="e-p">At a press conference after Wednesday's City Council, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe stressed the importance of improving security in the ByWard Market.

We know that there are many challenges in the ByWard Market and this is something I often spoke about in the election campaign last year. I hope we will work together, City Hall and the police, to find solutions for the vulnerable, for young people and to respond to criminal activity. It's very complicated, but it's very important to establish a safer ByWard Market in the future.