TORONTO, Ont. – Toronto police described the murder of a man in an empty Scarborough industrial unit last week as an illicit meeting gone wrong.

The city’s 42nd homicide victim drove to the industrial unit at 1970 Ellesmere Rd., east of Bellamy Road with a woman “for an illicit purpose,” Det. Mike Carbone said.

“It looks like it was some prearranged meeting that obviously went bad,” he said.

An autopsy determined Julian Richard Lee, 31, died of “blunt force trauma.”

When Lee arrived at the industrial unit around 1 p.m. last Wednesday, a red SUV was parked near the rear bay door, police said.

A man approached Lee and escorted him inside using the rear door.

Two men then walked out of the building.

One man climbed into the red SUV and drove off, while the second man approached Lee’s friend and directed her into the building.

Once inside, the victim and the woman were bound, police said.

The woman was uninjured but Lee sustained fatal injuries.

“I can say that she knew Mr. Lee. I can say she didn’t know what was going on when she entered the premises,” Carbone said.

The victim and the woman were discovered by a man who was visiting the property for its owner. Two men were spotted leaving the building.

Police released surveillance footage of the red SUV leaving the parking lot.



The SUV’s driver was described as 30-35, light-skinned black man with a thin build.

The second suspect was described as black, 5-foot-10, 170-190 lbs. wearing a black baseball cap and a dark shirt.

The third suspect was described as having a dark complexion, 35-40, six-foot-3, 200 lbs. wearing a black, hooded jacket.

Anyone with information should contact homicide detectives at 416-808-7400