Saturday, October 24, 2009

Toronto - Update on recent hate crime murder

Toronto police have now released security camera video of the vehicle they believe was used in the death of 27-year old Christopher Skinner. The footage can be found at

www.globaltoronto.com/Memorial+Service+Toronto+killed/2133286/story.html

Skinner was on his way home from his sister's birthday party during the early morning hours on October 18. At the intersection of Adelaide Street and Victoria Street, he became involved in an altercation with occupants of a black SUV. He was then beaten by an unknown number of attackers, knocked to the ground and run over by the SUV when the attackers fled the scene. He was taken to hospital but later died.

Police are calling the incident a homicide, and have yet to classify the attack as a "hate crime", but friends of the victim say he was targetted because he was gay. The victim was not know to have a history of violence.

Several witnesses have already come forward, but police say they are still looking to speak with anyone else who may have witnessed the crime and are searching for the driver of the SUV.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Stacey Gallant at 416-808-7410 and Detective Doug Dunstan at 416-808-7406, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).

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