Police investigate 30th homicide   Play video

EDMONTON - Police are investigating the city's 30th homicide of the year.

The deceased, 26-year-old Michael Wayne Tunnicliffe, suffered a fatal gunshot wound at about 10:20 p.m Sunday near 45 St. and 157 Ave.

A neighbour in the area said Tunnicliffe was trying to walk and was able to speak before he was put in the ambulance.

Tunnicliffe was pronounced dead in hospital.

John Heykants lives directly across the street and was in his garage Sunday night when he saw Tunnicliffe lying on the street with a blood stain on the stomach area of his T-shirt.

"I saw a fellow laying spread-eagle on his back on the road here," said Heykants, pointing to the spot.

"He got up, looked around, and tried to make his way to this alleyway here and he just went limp and fell face down on the pavement."

Heykants told his wife to call police while he went outside to check on the man, who was wearing sweatpants, a T-shirt and was barefoot.

"He was mumbling something about getting into it at home," said Heykants. "He said he had to get home."

Heykants stayed with Tunnicliffe, who he believes also suffered a broken nose, to ensure he didn't try to leave until the ambulance arrived.

When emergency responders arrived about 10 minutes later, they looked under Tunnicliffe's T-shirt and then rolled him on his back for what appeared to be a search "for an exit wound," said Heykants.

Some neighbours believed they had heard a shot, he said.

"When I saw him last, he was actually walking. He got up and walked into the ambulance," said Heykants.

"He'd been walking for a while — his feet were black."

Around midnight, police returned to the neighbourhood and told Heykants that Tunnicliffe had died.

"It was odd," said Heykants. "It's a pretty quiet (neighbourhood)."

On Monday, police said an autopsy determined Tunnicliffe died of a gunshot wound.

Tunnicliffe was known to police.

Edmonton currently has the highest homicide count in Canada this year.

Jasmine.franklin@sunmedia.ca