Toronto police investigating homicide
Oct 20, 2009 - 12:36 PM
By Jeff Hayward
UXBRIDGE -- An Uxbridge family is devastated after its "golden boy" was killed while walking home in Toronto on the weekend.
Chris Skinner, 27, who attended school in Uxbridge and Port Perry before heading off to Toronto's Ryerson University in 2001, was run down by an SUV about 3 a.m. on Oct. 18, according to the Toronto Police Service. The incident occurred in the Adelaide Street East and Victoria Street area of the city, with Mr. Skinner knocked to the ground during an altercation with the occupants of the SUV and then run over by the black vehicle which took off eastbound on Adelaide according to Toronto police, who are treating the death as a homicide.
"He didn't deserve this," said Junne Page, Mr. Skinner's grandmother who resides in Uxbridge along with the victim's parents and sister, adding the family is in mourning.
Mr. Skinner lived in Toronto working as a graphic designer at the time of the incident, "but he was a frequent visitor up here," said his grandmother. She also noted he was an avid skier "and very good with kids."
Prior to Ryerson, Mr. Skinner attended Uxbridge Public School, R.H. Cornish and Port Perry High schools, enrolled in gifted programs. He also had plans to attend law school and one day take over his father Warren's law practice in Newmarket, said Ms. Page.
The family is at a loss to figure out why someone would have taken Mr. Skinner's life as he was well liked, said Ms. Page.
"We know nothing about why this happened ... (those responsible) have to be caught and punished. He's my golden boy ... he's gone and I can't believe it, he was so popular and had so many friends."
The 27-year-old and his sister, Taryn, were out celebrating her birthday near the scene of the murder before words were exchanged with the group of men, which somehow instigating the fatal assault.
"I just don't know what would have caused that to happen," said lifelong friend Ashley McAreavey. "He's not a macho man, he's not inclined (to violence) ... I don't know if it was targeted or not. Unfortunately, I feel like it was."
Friends of Mr. Skinner suspect his death may have been related to the fact that he was gay, but Detective Stacey Gallant, who is the lead homicide detective in the case, said the notion this was an incident of gay-bashing is "pure speculation.
"We don't have anything pointing to that at this time," said Det. Gallant. "There is no evidence of it."
Toronto police are asking any one with information to call Det. Gallant at 416-808-7410, Det. Dunstan at 416-808-7406, or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477.
Meanwhile, Ms. Page said an 11 a.m. visitation for Mr. Skinner is planned for Thursday, Oct. 22, at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Leaskdale (a hamlet of Uxbridge), followed by a funeral service at 1 p.m.
- with files from Torstar news services
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