TORONTO, Ont. – A teen found dead by the Humber River was known to police, but investigators do not believe that the fact has anything to do with his murder.
17-year-old Andrew “Philly” Dowden was located around 8 p.m. Friday on the riverbank between Finch Ave. West and Rexdale Blvd, after a group of people out walking discovered his body.
Police said he was found with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead on the scene.
His death is being treated as a homicide.
There was no identification on the body when it was found.
In a news conference held Monday morning, investigators said do not know if the boy had been shot by the river, and are unsure of whether or not his body had been dumped in the river.
“It has been determined as a homicide investigation. Foul player is a factor in this case. It appears the man has been shot,” said Tony Vella of Toronto Police on Sunday.
Vella added that police are still trying to determine a motive for the murder.
“Obviously his parents are very concerned and upset with the situation. We need to provide them with the main answers about who has done this to their boy,” he said.
Dowden was last seen Monday July 26 around 8 p.m. in the Humberline and Finch area, nearby where he had lived in the past.
According to the Toronto Sun, Dowden had been reported as missing by his family the day before his body was found, but police suspect he may have been killed several days earlier.
The Sun reported that the family did not call Peel Police and report him as missing until Thursday, as he usually splits his time between different family homes in Toronto and Peel Region during the summer. He was said to be heading to one of the homes when he went missing.
He was a student, but investigators do not know what school he was attending. He is said to have several siblings, and police do not believe he was employed.
In order to trace Dowden’s last steps, investigators are asking anyone who may have seen him or anyone who frequents the area to contact police or Crime Stoppers, as they have no leads at this time.
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