Kingston Police, Kingston Fire and Rescue, and Frontenac Paramedic Services all on scene after a violent confrontation between two groups of people sent one man to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Photo by Shawn Garnett.

Princess Street at Division Street is now reopened to vehicle traffic following a closure after a violent altercation took place in the early morning hours.

The Kingston Police Major Crime detectives along with uniform patrol officers are now investigating the altercation, which involved multiple parties in the area of Princess and Division Streets. According to Kingston Police, an argument occurred between individuals in and around the Bubba’s Poutine and Pizzeria location at 401 Princess Street at approximately 3 a.m. As the fight escalated, damages occurred within the Bubba’s location, and a physical confrontation ensued outside.

Police, Kingston Fire and Rescue, and Frontenac Paramedics all attended the scene, where a male was unconscious in the middle of Princess Street, according to a witness.

As a result, a 21-year-old male was taken to hospital by paramedics. Additionally, a 28-year-old male was arrested on scene for assault-related offences, and a 25-year-old male was also arrested to for uttering threats and causing a disturbance. All three men are from the Kingston area, Kington Police said.

Kingston Police taping off the scene following a violent altercation between two groups of people at approximately 3 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Photo by First Response Media.

Bubba’s and Princess Towers taped off by police after the violent altercation in the early hours of Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Photo by First Response Media.

“I’d heard somebody yelling at three of the people that were walking away as the guy was unconscious in the middle of the road. So he had just been hit and knocked out and they were yelling at him,” said Shawn Garnett, who lives in Princess Towers overlooking Princess Street.

“A bunch of people crowded around him, I guess his friends, and they were trying to see if he was OK. He didn’t move the entire time. Probably within two or three minutes, somebody was giving him CPR,” Garnett continued.

Garnett said he called 9-1-1 immediately, and police arrived within about seven minutes, followed by fire and ambulance.

“EMS attended to him for a while, and were giving him CPR. I didn’t see him get hit, but it was very clear there was just a fight because [someone] was yelling and walking towards other people,” he said.

“At no point in time did he move at all. I didn’t see a leg move, a hand move, I didn’t see him sit up, nothing.”

Photo from above shows the large emergency response presence on Princess Street just below Division Street following a violent altercation that began at Bubba’s. Photo by Shawn Garnett.

According to Garnett, after posting information about the incident on social media, he was contacted by someone claiming to be close to the victim who indicated he had been placed in a medically induced coma. Kingston Police could not confirm this information.

The investigation is active and ongoing. Kingston Police continue to hold the scene of the pizzeria. Detectives are looking to speak to any witnesses to this occurrence to clarify the sequence of events and are encouraged to contact Det/Cst. Jason Alblas at [email protected]stonpolice.ca, or via phone at 613-549-4660 ext. 6267. Tips can also be provided anonymously by calling the Kingston Police general number at 613-549-4660 ext. 0 and asking to remain anonymous.

Bubba’s remained taped off by Kingston Police just before 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. Photo by Tommy Vallier.

Kingstonist will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as information becomes available.