UPDATE: Kingston Police confirm Chown Hall investigation closed

No charges or arrests made after racist and homophobic note found

Image supplied by: Journal File Photo
Deane expresses regret police failed to make charges or arrests in case

This article was updated with new information at 4:55 p.m.

The Kingston Police Department has closed its investigation into the racist and homophobic note discovered in Chown Hall in October, according to an email reviewed by The Journal.

On Friday evening, Residence Life Manager (Operations), Rebecca Shillington, emailed staff to say no charges or arrests had been made in the investigation, calling the news “disappointing.” The University and Kingston Police have not responded to The Journal’s requests for comment.

Principal Patrick Deane issued a statement Monday expressing his regret that police failed to make charges or arrests.

“This news I know will be received across campus with disappointment and sadness, perhaps also with anger and fear. I understand and sympathize with those feelings,” Deane wrote. 

“Were the persons responsible to have been apprehended, our university community might have found at least some consolation in the thought that justice could be done and, in the process, Queen’s rendered a safer and more welcoming place for our Indigenous and LGBTQ+ students and colleagues.”

In an email statement on Monday, Kingston Police confirmed The Journal‘s Jan. 17 report that the investigation had been closed.

“After an extensive analysis of the case Kingston Police has concluded its investigation into the incident at Chown Hall,” the statement read. “Detectives spoke to numerous individuals and potential witnesses in an attempt to garner leads however ultimately had negative results in identifying the suspect/s involved in this incident.”

On Oct. 10, a student in Chown Hall discovered a note taped to the common room door on the fourth floor. The note, written in verse, featured derogatory language aimed at LGBTQ+ and Indigenous students.

The note also referenced an Oct. 9 incident in which posters and flags, including a Métis flag and a Pride flag, were stolen from the fourth-floor common room.

In response to a Journal inquiry on Jan. 14, Principal Patrick Deane pledged to seek an update from Kingston Police about the Chown Hall investigation.

This story is developing and will be updated with more information.

Tags

Chown Hall, Kingston Police, racism

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