The city’s 55th homicide victim, intentionally run down overnight Monday in East York, has been identified.
Police say 16-year-old Matthew Dreaver was struck and killed just after 2 a.m. along Cedarvale Ave. near Woodbine and O’Connor.
The killing, said Det. Leslie Dunkley, appears to have stemmed from a dispute that took place behind the Shopper’s Drug Mart at 1500 Woodbine Ave.
“They became involved with two occupants of a motor vehicle that was parked,” he said at a news conference late Tuesday afternoon.
The victim and a 14-year-old friend then left the area on foot, but were confronted again by the suspects on Cosburn near Bracebridge Ave.
“The passenger of the motor vehicle exited, and began to chase the victim and his friend.”
The three ran towards the East York Memorial Arena, where the suspect vehicle drove over a grass boulevard and sidewalk to strike Dreaver from behind.
The vehicle fled west along Bracebridge Ave. before speeding north on Woodbine.
Dreaver was found without vital signs by emergency crews, who rushed him to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Both the driver and passenger are described as white males, 20 to 35 years old with round faces, between 5-foot-10 and 5-foot-11 in height with short to balding hair.
The passenger fits a similar description.
Police say they were in a small, black and clean four-door SUV of unknown make or model.
The vehicle will have front-end damage, Dunkley said.
While video of the suspect vehicle was released by police, Dunkley said investigators have obtained footage showing Dreaver being run down by the SUV — images the homicide investigators described as ‘graphic’ but clearly establish intent by the driver to intentionally hit the victim.
“We know the suspect vehicle patrolled the area for 15 minutes, and they interacted with some members of the community,” Dunkley said.
The victim’s friend was unhurt, and stayed by Dreaver’s side after the attack.
“He witnessed his friend dying on the ground,” Dunkley said.
He issued an appeal to GTA body shops to let investigators know if a vehicle matching that description comes in for repairs.
Dunkley is also asking anybody who spoke with the suspects, or those with surveillance cameras, to contact police at 416-808-7400, or Crime Stoppers.
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