This past long weekend is one people in Wasaga Beach won’t soon forget.
Two young men from Caledon were fatally stabbed in two separate incidents.
On Saturday night, Francesco Molinaro, 18, was stabbed to death in front of the Pizza Pizza parking lot on Mosley Street.
Police responded to another apparent fatal stabbing early Monday morning. According to the OPP, a 23-year-old man stabbed to death around 3:30 a.m. on Main Street near Skull Island miniature golf facility.
Police have identified the victim as Erick Tello Arias from Caledon, Ontario.
At this point, investigators don’t believe the two cases are related and returned to both scenes Tuesday. Police say they are still looking for suspects in both homicides.
While police still try to piece together what happened in both cases, many people in the Georgian Bay tourist town are stunned.
“I think for the short term it can hurt for a little bit,” said resident Paul Nixon who fears the two homicides will affect the town’s reputation.
About 1.7 million people visit Wasaga Beach every summer. Business owners along the Beach Area One tourist area where the homicides happened – hope it won’t make people leery of about visiting the town.
“It’s the last headline, it’s not what we want,” said Jamie Anderson, Edgewater Inn.
Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith expressed his sympathies to the families of two males recently killed in the town.
The mayor wants people to know the town is a safe place and intends to meet with the OPP in the coming days to discuss the circumstances.
“I plan to speak to the detachment commander to find out how we can get more officers walking the beat, especially those hours – that time of the evening when these things are happening and on busier times and weekends,” said Smith.
Police are still looking for witnesses and ask anyone with information to contact Huronia West OPP at (705) 429-3575 during normal business hours or after hours to the Provincial Communication Centre at 1-888-310-1122, or to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
