Scarborough Mirror

The man murdered at a Scarborough commercial building last week went there for a pre-arranged meeting that was for an “illicit” purpose, police say.

Julian Richard Lee, 31, died of blunt force trauma, an autopsy revealed.

Police said Lee was with a female friend when he pulled up to 1970 Ellesmere Rd., Unit 2 in a white Mercedes SUV around 1 p.m. Oct. 17.

The unit had been vacant for several months.

“When Mr. Lee arrived, a red SUV was parked near the bay door of the premises,” Det. Mike Carbone told reporters during a news conference at police headquarters Tuesday. “An unknown male met Mr. Lee and they both walked into the unit using a rear service door.”

There were two other male suspects already in the unit.

A short time later, two suspects left the building. One got into the red SUV and drove off while the other came up to Lee’s friend and directed her into the unit where she and Lee were bound.

“After a short period of time, an individual who is associated with the premises attended and located Mr. Lee and his friend,” Carbone said.

Police were called at 3:02 p.m.

Two suspects fled in Lee’s white SUV, which was found just before 9 p.m. in the parking lot of the Bayview Village Shopping Centre at Bayview and Sheppard avenues.

The vehicle underwent a forensic examination.

Lee was pronounced dead at the scene. His friend wasn’t harmed and is co-operating with police.

“My opinion is that she was never intended to be harmed,” Carbone said. “I can say that Mr. Lee was the intended target and that this woman who was with him, apart from being with Mr. Lee, had really nothing to do with it.”

Police released security camera video and still images of the red SUV.

Its driver is black with a light complexion, 30 to 35 years old with a skinny build.

A second suspect is black, 170 to 190 pounds and 5’10” tall and wore a black baseball cap and a dark shirt.

The third suspect is 35 to 40 years old, 6’3” tall, 200 pounds with a dark complexion. He wore a black jacket with a hood.

Carbone, of the homicide squad, said Lee went to 1970 Ellesmere for a pre-arranged meeting that was “for an illicit reason.”

The detective said Lee was known to police. “I’m not going to elaborate as to how,” he added.

This is the city’s 42nd murder of 2012.

Anyone with information is asked to call the homicide squad at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).