Edmonton police say a man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder following new information and a second autopsy into the 2024 death of Dwight Bennett, 39.
Bennett died on June 20, 2024, after going into medical distress at a residence in the Blue Quill Garden Apartments in south Edmonton.
According to police, emergency medical services responded to the residence and transported Bennett to hospital, where he died later that day.
The initial call was deemed to be a medical emergency, police said.
In a statement to CBC News, Edmonton police said they were not involved in the initial response and therefore cannot comment on the circumstances surrounding Bennett’s death at that time.
Police say the death was initially believed to have been the result of a medical event and was not considered criminal.
Officers became involved in the case in the summer of 2025 after new information came forward in May 2025.
Police have not provided details about the information that prompted the investigation, saying they are unable to comment further on the investigative lead.
As a result of the new information, a second autopsy was conducted and Bennett’s body was exhumed on July 30, 2025.
Police say the second autopsy led to Bennett’s death being ruled a homicide.
Police released the cause of death on Friday, which had previously been withheld for investigative purposes. Bennett died from a gunshot wound.
On Friday, Zachary Jerome-Legault, 40, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Police say Bennett and Jerome-Legault were known to each other.
Investigators continue to look for additional witnesses who they believe may have information about Bennett’s death.
According to court records, Jerome-Legault has several other charges before the courts, including charges related to the possession and trafficking of drugs and unlawfully possessing a firearm.
Jerome-Legault is scheduled to appear in Edmonton Court of Justice on Aug. 18.