Family seeks answers 3 years after Chris Skinner's death
27-year-old run over on downtown street following confrontation
Three years after Christopher Skinner was run over on a downtown Toronto street, police and his family are still seeking information they hope will lead to finding those responsible for his death.
Skinner, 27, died after getting into an altercation with the occupants of a black SUV near Adelaide Street East and Victoria Street on Oct. 19, 2009.
The attack happened at 3 a.m. Skinner had been celebrating his younger sister's birthday and was walking down Adelaide Street East away from the city's Entertainment District.
Police say Skinner was trying to hail a cab when his hand made contact — possibly inadvertently — with the passing SUV.
Police say the occupants got out of the vehicle, kicked Skinner to the ground , then returned to the vehicle.
"The driver, without hesitation, put the vehicle in motion and drove directly over Chris with the front and back wheels," said Toronto police Det.-Sgt. Stacy Gallant on Thursday.
Gallant said the investigation remains active and said he's confident police will track down the people in the SUV that night.
"One of these days, we will be knocking on your door," he said Thursday. "You can expect that to happen."
Gallant said police are also gathering DNA evidence they hope will lead to an arrest.
There remains a $150,000 reward for information in the case: $50,000 from Toronto Police Service combined with $100,000 raised by the family.
Family members have also turned to social media to gather tips, including:
- A Twitter account: @findchriskiller, #FindChrisKiller.
- A Facebook page: Facebook.com/findchriskiller. Tips to this account can be submitted anonymously.
- A YouTube account with all the relevant video related to the case, including security camera footage from the night Christopher died and footage of his vigil.
Anyone with information about the case can also contact Toronto police or Crime Stoppers.
Chris's sister Taryn said the family remains committed to helping police solve the case.
"It's been three years, but for us it’s still like it happened yesterday," she said.