The Sûreté du Québec is asking for assistance from the public in tracking down 41-year-old Philippe Benoit, now considered a suspect in a homicide investigation in Shawinigan.
The victim of a possible homicide was found at about 9 a.m. Sunday in a private residence in the Shawinigan neighbourhood of St-Georges. Details about the victim have not been made public. The investigation was transferred to the crimes against persons unit.
In an updated statement Monday, the SQ said information gathered during the investigation leads police to believe Benoit may be in possession of a bladed weapon. While there is no indication he poses a threat to the general public, police urged residents to remain vigilant.
Benoit was initially identified Sunday as a person of interest in the investigation. Police now consider him a suspect.
The SQ described Benoit as 5-foot-5 and weighing 100 pounds. He has light brown hair and blue-green eyes. Anyone seeing him is asked not to approach him, but to call 911. Any information that could lead to locating Benoit can also be communicated in confidence to the SQ at 1-800-659-4264.
A major police deployment was in place Sunday afternoon in Lac-aux-Sables, about 40 kilometres northeast of Shawinigan, as officers looked for Benoit, a Shawinigan resident. Traffic was closed on many streets.
Police said Monday that while searches and investigative work have so far focused on the Lac-aux-Sables area, Benoit could be elsewhere in Quebec.
On its Facebook page Sunday afternoon, Camping Lac-aux-Sables said people could safely circulate on the campground but were asked not to hold large gatherings. Campers were informed that the beach and restaurant would remain closed until Monday.
In an earlier post, people at the campground were asked to remain in their trailers as “the Sûreté du Québec is currently looking for a dangerous individual.”