Toronto police identify hit-and-run victim, locate suspect vehicle | CBC News

A car believed to have been involved in a fatal hit and run in the city’s west end earlier this month has been recovered, Toronto police say, and investigators have also identified a suspect.

In a news release issued Wednesday, police identified 48-year-old Toronto man Stuart Costigan as the victim of a collision that happened in the area of Roncesvalles Avenue and Dundas Street W. on June 6.

“I just don’t think anyone should have to be left after being hit by a vehicle on the side of the road like that — and I just hope there can be some justice,” the victim’s brother, Richard Costigan, told reporters after a police news conference Wednesday.

Police say the incident happened around 5:15 a.m. that morning, when a dark-coloured Volkswagen GTI was going south on Roncesvalles, just south of Dundas Street W. The driver hit Costigan, who was in the roadway at the time, police say.

The driver took off and was last seen going westbound on Howard Park Avenue, police say. Costigan was later pronounced dead at the scene.

At Wednesday’s news conference, Det. Aaron Swaine said investigators have recovered video footage of a person speaking with Costigan prior to the collision, and that several vehicles were also caught on camera driving through the area before emergency services arrived.

“We are urging these individuals to come forward and speak with police, as they may have crucial information that could help us with the investigation,” Swaine said.

Richard Costigan echoed that plea and said his family is just looking for closure to properly honour his brother’s memory.

“Hopefully the person or persons who witnessed anything have the courage — the moral compass I guess — to come forward and assist these officers in their investigation,” he said.

Swaine said the car police believe was involved in the collision is now undergoing forensic testing “to confirm that belief.” Investigators have also identified a suspect, he said, but Swaine did not provide any information about that person, nor their whereabouts.

He also said the car wasn’t stolen, but wouldn’t say how it was found, nor speculate on any potential charges the driver might face, citing the ongoing investigation. 

Toronto police also did not answer followup questions about whether or not the suspect owns the vehicle.

Richard Costigan said he last saw his brother on May 31 but hadn’t seen him for quite a while previous to that. The victim was the middle child of three brothers, in a family that originally came from Scotland before moving to Canada in 1981 — first to Edmonton, then later to the GTA in 1986.

“He was probably my best friend growing up, and so it’s difficult to see that his life has ended this way,” he said.

Costigan also said his brother had a memory like a vault and could easily remember things from their childhood.

“He would make you laugh harder than I would laugh with anyone else. He was an amazing, gifted musician. An amazing guitar player. I’ve yet to really meet anyone that had the talent he had,” Costigan said.

“I’m going to miss him.”