Solomon Odekunle, on Sunday November 6th, was seen staggering out of a popular hangout, Piper’s Bar and Grill, in Ottawa, Canada, with blood gushing out of his neck.
According to residents of their neighbourhood in Fagba, Lagos, the victim’s father is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He was admitted at the University of Ottawa in 2012, to study Economics.
Ottawa’s CBC News, disclosed that Solomon was stabbed by a suspect who has been identified as 27-year-old Joe Ndikuriyo, a Burundian national, over an alleged fight between the suspect and another individual concerning a lady.
Solomon’s father was said to have flown out to Canada, following the news of his son’s death while the mother relocated temporarily after the sad incident.
The deceased’s sister, Deborah, who is also studying in Canada, shared heart-breaking words on Twitter about the loss of her brother.
She said, “If I did know it would be your last, I would have given you more than a fist bump. I would have gotten down on my knees and give you the deepest bro-hug.
“If I did know it would be your last, I would have pleaded with the drama leader to allow the rehearsal to linger a little so you and Peter could make us giggle a little more with some frog jump.
“If I did know it would be your last, I would have treasured those great words you shared with me a couple of months ago in the technical department, have them handwritten with the best calligraphic pens, framed and given to you right after doing those frog jumps.
“To the Solomon I saw last week, to the Solomon that finally got his picture taken properly last week, to the Solomon with an intellectual smile and chubby cheeks, to the Solomon his friends described as kind-hearted and meek, see you next.”
Deborah explained that her father would be attending a wake organised to take place on Friday (yesterday).
“We would be having a memorial service for Solomon in Ottawa Friday evening and it is open to anyone that would like to come. Please, if you make it down, don’t cry because my dad would be there. I also believe that as Christians, we do not mourn, we celebrate life.
His friends, loved ones, lecturers and many others, sympathized with the family over the loss of a gentle and loving boy.
One of Solomon’s lecturers, Ryan Katz-Rosene, also tweeted, “(I am) absolutely devastated to learn of death of my #uOttawa student, #SolomonOdekunle – a kind, thoughtful and bright young man. May he rest in peace.”
The crime scene of Solomon’s death was an extensive area, which the police had to cordon off to gather evidence.
A staff Sgt. Bruce Pirt of Ottawa’s crimes unit said the cause of his death was yet to be ascertained as they had to analyze blood and potential evidence which was found at the scene of the incident.
It was also revealed that the suspect, who had earlier served a two-year jail term for possession of weapons, was arrested two days after the incident happened.
He has since been charged with second-degree murder.