THUNDER BAY – The charges against two accused in Thunder Bay’s second homicide of 2020 have been upgraded by Thunder Bay Police.
The Thunder Bay Police Service is charging two accused in a January homicide with First-Degree Murder.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers with the Uniform Patrol Branch were originally responded to a reported break and enter in the 300 block of Syndicate Avenue North just before 3 am on Thursday, January 9, 2020.
Officers arrived in the area and located footprints in the freshly fallen snow, which were suspected to be linked to the original call for service. Police followed the footprints and located two male suspects.
Further investigation led officers to discover that an 18-year-old male had been the victim of a serious assault at a Syndicate Avenue North residence. The victim was later identified as Austin Peter ROBINSON, 18, of Thunder Bay.
Paramedics transported ROBINSON to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for further treatment of his injuries. He later died from injuries he sustained during the assault.
Further investigation by members of the Thunder Bay Police Service’s Major Crimes Unit found two other victims, a 20-year-old male, and a 20-year-old female, who had been assaulted with a weapon at the time of the original incident at the South Syndicate Avenue home.
Cody ECHUM, 19, of Thunder Bay, and a 14-year-old male were both charged on Thursday, January 9, 2020, with Aggravated Assault. Both accused appeared in bail court that day and were remanded into custody with future appearance dates.
As a result of the ongoing investigation, and the victim’s passing, investigators have laid additional charges to both accused.
On Wednesday, Jan. 15 ECHUM appeared in court on charges of:
• First-Degree Murder
• Aggravated Assault
• Assault with a Weapon x 2
• Disguise With Intent
• Break and Enter
Meanwhile, a 14-year-old youth also appeared in court on charges of:
• First-Degree Murder
• Aggravated Assault
• Break and Enter
• Disguise with Intent
• Breach of Undertaking
ECHUM was remanded into custody with a future appearance date of January 17, 2020.
The youth, who cannot be named in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was remanded into custody with a future appearance date of Jan. 16, 2020.
A post-mortem examination of the victim is scheduled to take place in Toronto today.
The investigation continues. None of the charges have been proven in court.
