POTSDAM – Village police and other investigators are continuing to sift through evidence and leads trying to determine who killed 12-year-old Garrett Phillips in his Market Street apartment last week.

On Friday, police ruled the Oct. 24 death a homicide, based on initial results of an autopsy performed by a forensic pathologist in Albany.

Phillips, son of Tandy Cyrus, was found unconscious and alone in the apartment he and his mother shared at 100 Market St. Neighbors called police shortly after 5:10 p.m. last Monday and reported hearing a loud noise and moaning coming from the apartment.

Garrett was taken by the Potsdam Volunteer Rescue Squad to Canton-Potsdam Hospital, but efforts there to save him were unsuccessful.

Tuesday night, more than 240 people – students, teachers, parents, staff and area residents – attended a candlelight vigil at A.A. Kingston Middle School in Garrett’s memory. The evening included a number of stories about Garrett shared by friends — many of them depicting his fun-loving nature, his smile, and his appreciation of a good practical joke. Students sang a number of songs in tribute to him and candles were raised as the night concluded, with hopes that the next few days will bring some closure to the case, and an opportunity for his family and the community to begin mourning and healing.

Counselors were on hand at the school last week to help students and others work through their feelings over the death of the well liked boy.

Since Friday, there has been no additional news on the investigation from police. Police say they were continuing to work on leads and evidence, and to question anyone they thought might have some knowledge of how the boy died.

Police said they have not listed anyone as a suspect or person of interest in the case.

Garrett’s funeral took place Friday at Knapp's Station Community Church, followed by burial in Chapel Hill Cemetery in Parishville.

Garrett had been a sixth grade student at A.A. Kingston Middle School. He loved the outdoors, going to camp and riding his four-wheeler and hunting and fishing. Garrett was also very active in Potsdam sports, playing football, soccer, hockey, basketball and lacrosse.