Police release new details on workplace death of 19-year-old at Halifax Walmart
CBC
Warning: This story contains distressing details
Halifax Regional Police are releasing more details about the workplace death of a 19-year-old woman at a Walmart on Saturday.
"The woman, who was an employee of the store, was located in a large walk-in oven belonging to the store's bakery department," police said in a news release on Tuesday afternoon.
Police added that the investigation has not yet reached a point where the cause and manner of death have been confirmed. They have not released her name.
Police said they were called to the Mumford Road store on Saturday night around 9:30 p.m. local time and found the woman, who had been working that day, deceased when they arrived.
On Tuesday, the parking lot outside the store was mostly empty. Police told reporters on Tuesday afternoon they are no longer on scene.
In a statement, a spokesperson from Walmart said the store is "temporarily closed as we co-operate fully with the investigation."
The company said it was providing access to 24/7 virtual care to employees and providing on-site support, including grief counselling.
The provincial Department of Labour said in a statement to CBC News that a stop-work order was issued on Tuesday for the bakery and one piece of equipment at the store.
Some Halifax residents left flowers and notes in front of the Walmart in memory of the late employee.
Balbir Singh, the secretary of the Maritime Sikh Society, said Tuesday that the society has been in touch with the mother of the 19-year-old victim and learned that the woman and her mother are originally from India and came to Canada two to three years ago.
He said the local Sikh community is deeply distressed by her death.
"It's a really tragic incident and everybody is deeply hurt by this, and we are waiting for the police investigation to come out," said Singh. "We would like to know what happened to this young woman."
He added that psychological counselling is being provided to the mother and efforts are underway to bring other immediate family members from India. Singh said that once the body is released by the medical examiner, a religious service will be held in Halifax.
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