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 Christopher Skinner was killed during a hit-and-run at a downtown intersection Oct. 18. (Handout) |
TORONTO - Christopher Skinner may have died because he touched the suspects' vehicle as it drove by.
In a slaying that's left seasoned murder investigators stunned, the 27-year-old was beaten by at least two men who were in a black SUV before the driver purposely drove over him around 3 a.m. last Sunday.
Toronto Police homicide Det. Stacy Gallant believes Skinner hit the vehicle accidentally while trying to flag down a cab as he walked east on Adelaide St. following his sister's birthday celebration in the Entertainment District.
The motorist stopped and at least two, and as many as four, men got out and beat and kicked Skinner.
He collapsed on Adelaide, at Victoria St., and was run over during the 30-second-long attack.
Gallant said Skinner would have survived the beating.
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The killer, described as being white and wearing a black tank top, didn't slow down, didn't swerve, but just drove over the victim.
"It's just, you know, it's unimaginable that somebody can actually be that cold and just drive away knowing that they just drove over top of someone with a potentially, what, 4,000-lb. vehicle, and just drive away and not turn around," Gallant said.
The gay community is staging a vigil for Skinner at 8 tonight at Church and Wellesley Sts.
CURB LANE
Gallant released more surveillance-camera video showing Skinner moments before his death. He was standing in the curb lane on Adelaide at Yonge St., which was closed for construction, trying to flag a cab when the SUV drove by.
"He may have intentionally or unintentionally struck the suspect vehicle with his hand or part of his body," he said.
"That's what (the motive) appears to be at this point."
He said there's no evidence the killing was motivated because the victim was gay.
Surveillance video shows the SUV moving out of camera range and Skinner walking in the same direction.
Witnesses told police the SUV stopped in a live lane just west of Victoria and the men got out of the vehicle.
Gallant believes they were inspecting the SUV for damage and saw Skinner approaching.
"But ultimately the assault took place near the SUV, and Mr. Skinner was knocked down to the ground directly in front of it on the street, and the occupants got back into the SUV," he said.
LYING IN PATH
Gallant believes the driver knew Skinner was lying in his path. "They had to have known he was in front of the vehicle," he said.
Gallant said the surveillance image is being enhanced by the Centre of Forensic Sciences and the FBI to get the SUV's licence plate.
"What I would say to the people in the car, is that it's best you contact a lawyer now," Gallant said.
"Do the right thing and call us.
"The investigation is not going away.
"Even the people in the back seat, if there were people in the back seat, they have to live with this for the rest of their lives," he said.
"The (vehicle) they were seated in ... they were part of the death of Mr. Skinner as it drove over top of him."
ROB.LAMBERTI@SUNMEDIA.CA