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Sean Allan Kier, 23, was stabbed to death March 29th, 2008.

Kier was Edmonton's eighth homicide victim of the year.

Case status is open and active.

Police continue to investigate the murder of Sean Kier.

At about 1:28 a.m. on March 29th, 2008 police responded to a weapons complaint outside the Coliseum Inn at 11845 Wayne Gretzky Drive Southbound.

Emergency medical services were called after a 23-year-old man was discovered lying on the pavement suffering what appeared to be stab wounds. He was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The fatal assault took place just outside the Diesel Ultra Lounge, part of the hotel located across the street from Rexall Place.

Police blocked off portions of Wayne Gretzky Drive southound from the Fort Road interchange to 118th Avenue as the scene was examined by forensic officers.

Insp. Howie McCann commented on the number of stabbing incidents police had been called out to in recent days.

"All of a sudden it's the night of the knives. They haven't come out in a long time," he said. "What's causing it, who knows? It is spring, but spring is hardly a reason to be doing this."

McCann said knife fights are easily avoided.

"You should never bring a knife to a bar people just see that as a way to win a fight and what is the point of winning a fight if someone dies."

No details regarding the man's identity or possible suspects have been made available, but police said they were interviewing two persons of interest who had been in the club. A vehicle was seized but investigators did not indicate how it was connected to the incident.

Global Edmonton reported that the victim was known to police, had gang ties and was a suspect in the murder of 23-year-old Tony Doyle on January 15th, 2005.

An altercation on the floor of the Globe Tap Bar & Grill at 10045 109 Street caused Doyle to come to the aid of a friend who was being attacked by up to six people. Several other individuals were also injured. Interviews and examination of club video surveillance failed to generate leads.

The Global Edmonton story was later confirmed when the Edmonton Sun published that Doyle's father, Ashleigh Doyle, was contacted by police. However, due to the ongoing nature of his son's murder investigation, Ashleigh was unable to elaborate on what police told him.

On March 31st, 2008 police identified the city's eighth homicide victim of the year as 23-year-old Sean Allan Kier.

A medical examiner confirmed that Kier died from multiple stab wounds.

"He is known to police and known to have gang ties, but when it comes to this particular incident, gang involvement has not been determined," said a police spokesman.

Immediately after the incident, the Edmonton Journal spoke with two persons who reported seeing two men flee the Diesel Ultra Lounge prior to the arrival of police.

"I looked out my window and saw two guys running away from the club, stumbling," said Rayelle Foxwell, a guest at the hotel. "They were in a hurry. Then the police and paramedics came."

Another witness told the Journal that at about the time of the initial disturbance several men left the club, their faces covered in blood.

The Edmonton Sun reported the Coliseum Inn rents space to the Diesel Ultra Lounge and the two were not affiliated.

While management of the club was not available for comment, a hotel employee stated that neither the club nor its patrons have caused trouble before.

However, Jake Cove told the paper there had been fights inside the club all night and said that at one point he spotted someone sporting a pair of brass knuckles.

As police kept everyone inside the club for questioning until around 3:30 a.m., Cove said without music and service the club took on a “sketchy” atmosphere.

“Everybody just started smoking because they couldn't kick us out,” said his friend Cam Walsh.

The hotel and lounge were were filled by those who had attended the Foo Fighters concert at Rexall Place and the Canadian National College Finals Rodeo at the Agricom.

Out-of-town visitors staying at the Inn told the Sun they were surprised to hear they were so close to the violence the capital city was known for.

“I'm sure if you're from here, you know which areas to avoid,” said Meg Steinburg of Red Deer as she was checking out.

Her boyfriend, Dave McKinnon, said that Edmonton's homicide rate has given the city a bad reputation.

“It's kind of notorious,” he said, adding friends had warned him about staying near Rexall Place.

deadmonton 2008 - sean allan kier