Hamilton police have arrested and charged a 40-year-old Hamilton man with second-degree murder after the death of David Fugler.
Fugler, 46, was found unconscious in his room by paramedics at 36 Queen St. S., on Saturday, Aug. 3, at roughly 9:30 p.m., according to police.
Police said he was taken to hospital but died early the next morning.
Officers started investigating his death as a homicide after autopsy results from Monday, according to the service.
The address is a privately-run residential care facility called Queen’s Lodge. CBC Hamilton attempted to contact the lodge for more details.
Residential care facilities came under scrutiny earlier this year during an inquest into the death of a former resident of one. In this case, Det.-Sgt. Sara Beck said on Wednesday that Queen’s Lodge —which provides 24/7 support to eight residents — “is not a place that police are responding to on a regular basis. “
Police believe mental health was a factor in death
During a press conference, Beck told reporters that officers arrested Hemraj Lakhan on Tuesday.
She said the 40-year-old from Hamilton was Fugler’s roommate in the facility and an altercation between them led to Fugler’s death.
She did not disclose the specifics of Fugler’s injuries, but said no guns were involved and “mental health does play a role in what happened.”
Beck said Lakhan has a criminal record, but didn’t share more details.
She added police are not looking for any other suspects as the investigation has concluded.
She said the arrest is bittersweet for Fugler’s family.
“They’re very happy and they’re very grateful that the arrest has been made, but obviously equally so upset and such a tragic death and very unexpected,” Beck said.
Hamilton police said on Tuesday Fugler was “a beloved son, brother, and friend.”
His death is the city’s sixth homicide this year.