Teenage Head guitarist found murdered in Hamilton: sources

One of the founding members of legendary Canadian punk band Teenage Head has been found murdered in Hamilton, sources confirm with CityNews.

Gord Lewis, the band’s longtime lead guitarist, was found dead in an apartment at 175 Catharine Street South on Sunday.

The band confirmed his death on its Facebook page, saying they are “heartbroken and still trying to process the loss of our friend, bandmate and brother…”

The Hamilton Spectator reported that one of its staff called 911 to alert police about suspicious emails sent to their newsroom on Saturday and Sunday by a person named Jonathan Lewis, believed to be the musician’s son.

The newspaper said the emails suggested that Gord Lewis was deceased, spurring the Spectator staffer to call police who followed up with a wellness check.

In an update on Monday, Hamilton police confirmed they found a deceased male in his 60s during that check, but said a positive identification of the victim has not yet been made due to the “level of decomposition,” to the body.

“Investigators have been in contact with family members related to the apartment’s occupant and they are aware of the ongoing investigation,” police said.

Forty-one-year-old Jonathan Lewis has been charged with second-degree murder.

No other suspects are being sought at this time, police said.

Teenage Head were scheduled to perform at Kerrfest In Oakville on September 10th.

The band, who formed in 1975 and were all students at Hamilton’s Westdale High School, were recently the focus of a documentary that followed their successes and struggles over the years.