Teen accused of killing librarian, ‘stressed and confused’

By OttawaMatters Staff

The young man accused of killing a Christian Science Reading Room librarian has made his first court appearance.

Tyler Hikoalok, 18, appeared via video, slumped in posture and looking very tired. When the judge asked for his name, he mumbled, “Tyler.”

The teen is facing first degree murder charges in the death of Elisabeth Salm, 59.

Salm was discovered badly beaten inside the reading room on Laurier Avenue on Thursday afternoon. 

Hikoalok's lawyer Mike Smith said his client is shaken.

“Tyler, right now, is a little bit stressed [and] confused about what has happened in the last 24 hours,” he explained. “That's about as much as I can say about how he's feeling right about now.”

Speaking outside the courthouse, a friend of Hikoalok's named Isiah told OttawaMatters.com that his friend “needed more help than he was given” and that he clearly “snapped” on Thursday.

According to tr1bemusic.com, Hikoalok is an Inuit youth from Nunavut, who was removed from his community of Cambridge Bay at the age of 9 and put into foster care.

The 18-year-old is listed as an artist on TR1BE Music's web page. It is a studio program to help Indigenous artists break into the music industry.

Meanwhile, the family of Salm has released a short statement:

“Hello everyone,

I am Lauren Young, the brother of Elisabeth's husband, Lyle Young. Elisabeth's family thanks the many people who have expressed support towards us the last few days. We would also like to acknowledge the efficient work done by the Ottawa police. They are true servants to the community.

We thank the media and the public for their patience in awaiting a further statement from the family. We ask that everyone respect the family's privacy until we are ready to make a statement.”

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today