The Gordon Gunn Murder
At 3:25 am, Wednesday, June 21st, 1967, 44-year old Gordon Gunn, the Night Manager at the Montcalm Motor Hotel on Pembina Highway, was found dead by hotel patrons. Mr. Gunn had been stabbed twice in the back with a set of knifes that had been taken from the hotel's kitchen area. At the time of his death it appeared that Mr. Gunn had been counting the days cash receipts. A total of $259.61 was missing from the hotel and while robbery was the most likely motive, Mr. Gunn had complained about getting threatening phone calls at work prior to his death. Mr. Gunn did not normally work the night shift, however he had switched his shift to accommodate the night clerk who was away on holidays.
Mr. Gunn was last seen alive at 1:50 am when the evening shift bartender returned to the hotel to retrieve something he had forgotten. When the bartender arrived he found the doors to the hotel were locked and Mr. Gunn had to let him in. At this time the bartender noticed that there was a single male "customer" still in the hotel lobby who appeared to be looking at post cards. Although Mr. Gunn did not give any indication that he was afraid or worried about the customer, as there had been a previous robbery (safe job) at the hotel, the bartender's suspicions were aroused and he took a good look at this male before leaving.
As this "customer" has never been identified, it is believed that he was in fact the killer. According to the bartender, this male was described (in 1967) as being in his early 20's, 140-150 lbs, slim build, brownish hair, fair complexion, rough skin (possibly with freckles) and wearing horned rimmed glasses. Although robbery appears to be the possible motive, Mr. Gunn was seen in the company of a similarly described male in the past and this crime may be more personal in nature than it appears. Today, this male would be in his late 50's.
If you have any information about this case, please contact Crime Stoppers at 786-TIPS (8477), or e-mail Sgt. Al Bradbury and Det. Jon Lutz of the Cold Case Homicide Unit.
http://winnipeg.ca/police/Unsolved_Cases/Homicides/1967_gunn.stm