Oshawa murder victim identified

The victim of last Friday’s murder in downtown Oshawa has been identified.

Durham Regional Police have identified Ken Chopee, 58 of Oshawa, as the man killed on Jan. 27 near Drew St.

That morning, around 11 a.m. police announced they were investigating a sudden death near Drew St. and Olive Ave. They later confirmed they had been called to the city’s Micro-Home project to check on the well-being of a resident.

On arrival, first responders found Chopee suffering “significant trauma” without vital signs. Chopee was declared dead at the scene.

Police have not specified the nature or extent of Chopee’s injuries. However, the Ontario Coroner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

The next day, they charged Justin Steeves, 32 of Oshawa with first-degree murder.

This is the second murder in Durham Region of 2023 coming little more than two weeks after the Jan. 12 stabbing death of John Genereux, 66, in Uxbridge.

Generaux’s death came six weeks after Durham’s 15th and final murder of 2022, that of Teil-lyn Cook, 19, also in Oshawa on Dec. 4. Last year’s second murder in the Region was the death of cab driver Michael Ryan, 57, who was shot in Oshawa on Jan. 24, 2022.

Anyone with information regarding Chopee’s death can call homicide Det. Graham at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5319 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).