Death of 41-year-old man in Dawson City ruled a homicide

RCMP in Dawson City, Yukon, say the death of a 41-year-old man last week is considered a homicide.

An autopsy was performed on Friday on the body of Kevin EdwardMcGowan, RCMP said in a news release Monday.

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"Results from the autopsy have confirmed his death to be a homicide," the statement said.

McGowan, who was from B.C., had only been in Dawson City for a matter of weeks, according to people who knew him. He had moved to town to work as a chef over the summer.

He died in the downtown areain the early hours of April 30.A memorial was placed at the corner of Second Avenueand King Streetlast week.

In an emailed statement to CBC, McGowan'sparents, Dianna and Dave McGowan, said working as a chef was their son's passion in life, and that he had worked all over B.C. and Alberta.

"Kevin loved life and was outgoing. His beautiful smile was contagious and he was the life of the party," the statement reads.

"All our family wants now is closure and justice for Kevin."

Yukon RCMP's major crimes unitis now leading theinvestigation.

Anyone with information aboutMcGowan's death is asked to contact YukonRCMP at (867)993-2677.