Few witnesses in Cecil Hotel stabbing death

A man who died at the Cecil Hotel on the weekend was stabbed to death, Calgary police confirmed on Tuesday.

Emergency crews were called to a stabbing at the downtown hotel in the 400 block of Fourth Avenue S.E. at about 1 a.m. on Sunday. A man, believed to be in his mid- to late 20s, died at the scene, said police.

An autopsy completed Tuesday confirmed the man's death was the city's 29th homicide of the year.

"This investigation has been very difficult due to limited witness information," Staff Sgt. Kevin Forsen said in a news release.

Homicide investigators are working to locate the victim's next of kin so they can release his name in order to generate tips from the public regarding his actions leading up to the stabbing, he said.

The rundown hotel has been a target of many complaints over the years about drugs, prostitution and violence.

Ald. Druh Farrell, who represents the area, said police complaints about the Cecil Hotel have sparked the city to hold a hearing at the end of the month to review the establishment's business licence.