Matthew Staikos was no one’s idea of a murder victim.
Well-educated, hard-working and with no apparent connection to the criminal underworld, the tech entrepreneur nonetheless fell victim to what appears to be a targeted hit. Drugs and gambling were absent from his CV.
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But on the night of May 28, 2018, Staikos, 37, was shot to death on Bay St. near Yorkville Ave. He had been walking with a friend when the pair passed a Mercedes-Benz parked on the street.
A man emerged from the luxury car and began shooting. Staikos’ shocking murder remains unsolved.
Now, his family are renewing an offered $250,000 reward that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his senseless death.
His brother, George Staikos, told The Toronto Sun following a press conference on Tuesday that the family has been shattered by Matthew’s murder and are desperate for some kind of closure.
“It’s difficult to believe this was a case of mistaken identity,” he said. “Whoops, we got the wrong guy … we don’t need to get the right guy now. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but I doubt it.”
Homicide detectives have been stymied in their quest for answers. Early leads have petered out.
Now, nearly five years later, Staikos’ heartbroken family struggle daily with their loss.
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“It has been hell, and it continues to be, really never behind us,” George Staikos said. “We’d like to get a bit of closure and move on. It weighs on us, as it does Matthew’s friends and co-workers.”
On the night of his death, cops received a report that three gunshots were heard. Matthew Staikos was dead at the scene, shot in the head. Investigators noted that there was “no precipiating event” before the shooting.
Detectives said at the time they were hunting a triggerman who was described as black, 5-foot-10, with a medium build.
“We’ve looked deeply into the background of Matthew Staikos. He was exactly as he’s being described. Loved by all. A successful businessman. In a loving relationship …The reason this happened to him is still dumfounding to us,” Det.-Sgt. Terry Browne told reporters, adding the motive remains elusive.
Matthew Staikos was a graduate of the mechanical and computer engineering program at the University of Toronto. He worked for Blackberry and at the time of his death was CEO of the Internet messaging site Vleepo.
The Staikos family is unlikely ever to be the same. In a release, they said as much.
“To say that the last four years, eight months, and 10 days have not been easy would be a gross understatement. Every day has been excruciating, insufferable, seemingly unsurvivable,” the family said in a statement released Tuesday.
“Today is no different. And yet, here we are. We don’t want to be here. It is incredibly difficult for us to once again be standing in front of the cameras, sharing our pain with the world. But we are desperate.”
“Our lives will never be the same. We will never be as joyful, as calm, or as complete as we once were when our sweet, brilliant Matthew was with us and living his beautiful life. But being able to bring Matthew’s killer to justice, to understand why this happened, to take the next step forward in this most unfortunate process will, we think, bring us some peace.”
If you have information on the murder of Matthew Staikos, contact the Toronto Police Homicide Unit at 416-808-7400 or call Crime Stoppers at 416−222−TIPS (8477).
bhunter@postmedia.com
@HUnterTOSun