The Windsor Spree Killer: From Horrific to Surreal part 1

2022-08-04

When you think of spree killings, mass murders, and mass shootings, your first thought may be that it’s just another day in the news. While they have become a far too frequent occurrence south of the border, and they are significantly more rare in Canada, they have happened here. It’s a phenomenon that we’ve begrudgingly had to accept, and an image we’ve somehow developed a stomach for. But in 1966, these sorts of violent events weren’t as common. There wasn’t even a label for it. No ‘mass...

When you think of spree killings, mass murders, and mass shootings, your first thought may be that it’s just another day in the news.

While they have become a far too frequent occurrence south of the border, and they are significantly more rare in Canada, they have happened here. It’s a phenomenon that we’ve begrudgingly had to accept, and an image we’ve somehow developed a stomach for.

But in 1966, these sorts of violent events weren’t as common. There wasn’t even a label for it. No ‘mass shooters’ or ‘serial killers’. Back then they were just bad people, plain and simple. If something of this magnitude did happen, it was such an anomaly that it was hard to forget the name of the shooter and their victims, unlike today.

So when Canada’s first ever spree killer attacked the streets of Windsor on June 25th, 1966, it was a complete shock to everyone.

This is part 1 of a 2-part episode about Matthew Charles Lamb, Canada's first spree killer.

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