Toronto police have released security video of a black SUV in the downtown core in the early hours of Sunday morning that they think might have been involved in a homicide.

"What we are looking at is the intersection of Bay and Adelaide," said Det. Stacy Gallant, the lead homicide investigator told a Thursday news conference as he described the brief clip showing the SUV going through a green light.

"That we believe is the SUV that is involved in the murder of Christopher Skinner. We're hoping that anybody that may recognize this vehicle to give us a call and let us know who it belongs to."

If people think they saw it downtown, that would also help, he said.

On Sunday at about 3 a.m., Chris Skinner had been walking home alone following birthday celebrations with his sister. For whatever reason, a physical confrontation developed between Skinner and the vehicle's occupants near the intersection of Victoria and Adelaide Streets.

Gallant said there were up to three other occupants of the vehicle besides the driver.

They beat him up, left him lying on the ground -- and then drove over him. Gallant said from what witnesses have told him, the driver's actions appear to have been deliberate.

 The vehicle was last seen heading eastbound on Adelaide. Skinner died in hospital of his injuries.

Skinner is gay, but Gallant said he has no evidence at this point to corroborate the view that the victim's sexual orientation was a factor in the attack.

"We're still open to that, if something changes, but nothing is leading us in that direction," he said.

Gallant said he's also lacking information at this point as to what might have triggered the fatal incident.

He felt frustrated by the lack of security video available to the investigation team. While businesses along Adelaide have security cameras, those cameras are positioned to protect businesses, he said.

Gallant also had a general description of the driver -- Male, light skin, wearing a black tank top with a short, almost military-style vehicle.

If anyone remembers seeing such a person in the club district, Gallant asked them to call him.

People with information about Skinner's murder are asked to contact Gallant at 416-808-7410 or Det. Doug Dunstan at 416-808-7406, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and a message to CRIMES (274637).

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old victim, who had hoped to go to law school and marry his fiance next summer, had his funeral Thursday afternoon. The service was held at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Leaskdale, north of Uxbridge.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Jim Junkin