Toronto Police are now treating the weekend death plunge of a man as the city's 19th homicide.
"It's clearly evident that the motive in this case was armed home invasion. And as a consequence of that act, Mr. Booth went off the balcony which resulted in this death," Det. Sgt. Frank Skubic of the homicide squad told a Friday news conference.
Egbert Boothe's body had been found at about 11:30 p.m. on May 29 in the grass just behind a high-rise at 2000 Sheppard Ave. W., just west of Jane Street.
Police had already considered the death suspicious, but now say they have since learned that three armed, masked men burst into Boothe's apartment before he fell to his death.
They also allegedly robbed one of Boothe's roommates of $200 in cash, along with jewelry. Boothe, known to some as Jah'b or Jahbible, ran out onto the balcony of his 15th-floor unit.
Another roommate reportedly didn't see or hear what transpired.
Two men chased Boothe out onto the balcony. "The two men returned from the balcony and vocalized an urgent need to depart," police said in a news release.
An autopsy has concluded that Boothe, who is well known in the Caribbean community as a party promoter, died of injuries consistent with a high fall.
Police have security camera images of the three men as the left the building's rear door.
They are describing the three as persons of interest. Here are their descriptions:
- black, 5'6"-5'9", slight moustache and chin hair. Last seen wearing a red Montreal Canadiens baseball cap, white T-shirt, purple plaid shorts, and Nike Air Jordan runners,
- black. Last seen wearing a dark hoodie, light-blue shorts, and black-and-white runners,
- black. Last seen wearing a black do-rag, a white T-shirt, denim shorts and blue runners
People with information are asked to call Skubic at 416-808-7399. They can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and a message to CRIMES (274637).
