Erie police are investigating the suspected assault of a man found dead along East 26th Street late Wednesday night.
The man, whose name was not released, was found on the sidewalk in the 1000 block of East 26th Street, between Pennsylvania and East avenues, police said.
“It appears he was assaulted,” Erie police Deputy Chief Rick Lorah said. “It does not appear to be medical in nature. It appears to be suspicious circumstances.”
Lorah said police will better understand the cause of death following an autopsy, which the Erie County Coroner’s Office said it has scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
The police were called to the scene shortly after 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Lorah said. The victim was pronounced dead at UPMC Hamot at 11:58 p.m., according to the Coroner’s Office.
Lorah said five detectives are working the case. He said they are interviewing witnesses and looking for surveillance video.
“It is an active and ongoing investigation,” Lorah said.
He asked anyone with information on the case to contact Detective Sgt. Ira Bush at 814-870-1128 or Detective Benjamin Gadsby at 814-870-1338.