Police identify 16-year-old victim of gunshot

Victim was 16-year-old boy

Police have identified the victim who was found dead of a gunshot wound Wednesday on Church Street as 16-year-old Chance Gauthier.

Gauthier was known to frequent downtown Windsor, according to police, who are asking anybody with information about the victim or the incident to contact police.

Police have classified the case as a “suspicious death.”

“There’s no question the person was 16 years of age,” Windsor Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Betteridge said Thursday. “That is a very young age and should be concerning for all of us.

“Our job is to get to the bottom of this investigation so we’re asking anyone with information to give the police a call.”

Betteridge said witnesses reported hearing a possible gunshot in the early morning hours on Wednesday. Gauthier was found in the 900 block of Church Street, which was partially closed Wednesday as police investigated.

“It is rare for the Windsor Police Service to release the name of a victim,” Betteridge said.

“But we’re hoping that with his name and age being released it will jog someone’s memory. We’d like anyone with information to contact the police.”

Investigators say the victim died from a gunshot, though they are not yet publicly saying where the wound is. No weapon has been recovered.

The Windsor Police Service major crimes branch continues to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Windsor Police Service at 519-2556700, ext. 4830, or Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 (TIPS), or online at www.catchcrooks.com.