TORONTO – Three more arrests have been made in the death of Christopher Skinner, the 27-year-old who was run over by an SUV downtown Toronto on Oct. 18, 2009.
Jamaal Phillips Bond and Nicholas Swaby, both 23-year-old Toronto men, were arrested and charged with assault causing bodily harm. Bond was also charged with obstructing police, as was 24-year-old Anthony Samuel, who received an additional charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.
Bond was arrested Thursday, Swaby arrested on Tuesday and Samuel Monday.
Last week, 23-year-old Etobicoke resident Augustin Alexander Caruso was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. He was the driver of the black 2004 Ford Explorer that ran Skinner over.
“Anyone who assisted in any way in the events that led to the death of Christopher Skinner will be held in account,” said Detective Sergeant Stacy Gallant during a Nov. 7 press conference.
Video: Arrest made in death of Christopher Skinner (Nov. 7)
Skinner was killed after attempting to hail a cab on Adelaide Street in the city’s entertainment district around 3 a.m.
Police say he may have “inadvertently” come into contact with a passing vehicle when some of the occupants got out and assaulted him.
The vehicle then proceeded to fatally run him over.
Det. Sgt. Gallant said last week the black SUV had been seized from Caruso’s home. Authorities don’t believe the murder was a hate crime.
Last year, police announced an additional $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Skinner’s death, and the family has already collected over $100,000 to offer as a reward.
Skinner’s family has set up a Facebook page and started a social media campaign using the hashtag #findchriskiller to try to help further the investigation.
Toronto police say the investigation is ongoing.
With files from David Shum
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