Cancer researcher stabbed to death during evening walk

A 39-year-old man fatally stabbed Tuesday evening was out for his regular evening walk and appears to be the victim of a robbery gone wrong, Toronto police say.

MarkErnsting, 39, died after he was attackednear 38 McGill St., just east of Yonge Street and close to Ryerson University, around 9:30 p.m. ET.

Police say hewas stabbed multiple times, including at least once in the head.

"There was no previous relationship between the accused and the deceased," Det. PaulWordentold CBC News. "The deceased was just out for his normal evening walk and happened to come across the accused and he was attacked."

CBC News has confirmed that Ernsting worked for the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.

He was alsoan adjunct professor at Ryerson Universitywhere he worked withgraduate students in theelectrical and computer engineering department.

About an hour after the attack, police arrested Calvin MichaelNimoh, 21,nearYongeStreetandSummerhillAvenue. He is charged with second-degree murder and appeared in court on Wednesday.

Investigators believeNimoh, who is known to police, may have tried to robErnsting.

'Pool of blood' outside driveway

Barbara Galbraith, who lives in the area, says she had just come into the kitchen around 10 p.m. when she saw police outside and noticed blood on the sidewalk.

"It had just happened," Galbraith said. "The pool of blood was right outside my driveway."

Galbraith said the incident was very unnerving and that the area is generally safe.

"It's well lit, it's so close to Yonge Street and there are always people around," she said. "Police are very good about patrolling the area. I've been here 15 years and nothing like this has ever happened."

In a written statementRyerson University said:"Those who knew and worked with Mark said he was a wonderful colleague and an excellent researcher."

Friends and coworkers have been posting messages ofcondolenceon social media.