Police in Kitchener, Ont., were investigating on Monday the weekend killing of a 72-year-old man delivering Christmas cards.

Hunter Brown was dropping off cards to neighbours on Saturday afternoon — an annual ritual — when he was attacked. He was found bleeding and unconscious and was pronounced dead in hospital. Police are awaiting an autopsy to determine whether a weapon was used.

Brown and his wife Beverly lived in the community for more than 30 years. Neighbour Lois Hogg, who had known Brown since 1974, told the Kitchener Record that Brown "was just amazing." She said he never missed his grandsons' hockey games.

Another neighbour, Dieter Engelmann, said he couldn't believe the attack happened during the day.

"He was a peaceful man," Engelmann told the Record. "If someone asked him for money, he never said no. Why would anyone do that to him?"

The bundle of cards Brown was delivering was passed on to another neighbour.

"It is a very tragic story, it was a vicious assault," police spokesman Olaf Heinzel said Monday. "It's very disturbing for our community."

On Monday, police were canvassing area homes and businesses hoping for clues.

"Our focus right now is trying to find out what happened," Heinzel said. "We are focused on trying to identify a possible suspect."

Witnesses said a man in a black toque and a long black coat was seen fleeing the neighbourhood on foot.

With files from the Canadian Press