Ontario community still on edge after man killed by arrow on morning walk

Michael Gibbon loved to start each day with an early morning walk. The resident of Kitchener, Ont., enjoyed the peaceful calm of the early hours. But on Monday, the 60-year-old was found dead on the side of the road with an arrow in his chest. Police are now on a hunt for his killer. 

"Everybody is totally shocked [and] a little bit nervous. I don't remember anything ever happening [like this]. I mean, we used to play in that bush when we were kids," Linda Leinweber tells As It Happens host Carol Off.

Leinweber is Gibbon's older sister. She says the police are doing their best to build a case but that the community feels unsafe given the lack of information or leads.

"We don't know a whole lot more than what has been in the news simply because they have to kind of keep things under wraps I guess."

Leinweber says that police were forced to make a change to their investigation because of the Thanksgiving holiday. They had planned to use a so-called 'mirror-canvas' tactic to trace and monitor the events on the upcoming Monday. But, because of the holiday police felt the simulation would be inaccurate as they would likely not encounter the same people who were out driving and walking on Monday, October 5th. Instead, police are canvassing this week.

Leinweber explains that Gibbon always walked around the same neighbourhood.

"He was a routine guy," she explains."He was born right there in the house that he was living in. And that was the neighbourhood he's been walking around for 60 years, ever since he could walk."

Leinweber says that her sister questioned why Gibbon walked so early.

"My sister said that she'd sort of expressed some concern to [Michael] now that it was starting to be a little bit darker in the morning...that you know, 'do you really have to walk that early?'"

But Leinweber insists Gibbon never expressed any concern.

"Michael, he didn't have an enemy in the world," she explains.

Police have identified a person of interest but have not released details of any other suspects or motivation for the crime.

Leinweber says an autopsy has been performed but that police haven't told her the type of arrow that was used or any other details. She says small funeral is being planned for early November.

"He's just going to be missed more than words can say. It just leaves such a hole in our family."