A coalition of church groups is calling for mental health councillors to provide support for families and young people in Halifax’s north end following the latest shooting in the area earlier this week.
On Monday night, 22-year-old Tyler Keizer was shot to death in a parked SUV in the area of Falkland and Gottingen streets.
A week earlier, a 58-year-old man was shot blocks down the street. In April, a young man was shot to death in a vehicle on the other side of the street, he was one of three men shot to death that week alone.
Community leaders are encouraging those affected by the recent gun violence to come together and talk about the impact the recent events have had on their health.
"This has impacted on the whole community, not just on the families,” says Lana MacLean, chair of the African united Baptist Association of Nova Scotia.
MacLean says the association is requesting mental health clinicians be made available to provide support to the community.
"You're having parents who are trying to emotionally regulate their children and themselves during this difficult crisis time,” says MacLean. “As they grieve, I mean grief is complex, we're adding another layer onto this."
The association is calling a community healing and health meeting at the Halifax North Memorial Public Library Monday evening. Anyone who lives in the area, or who is grieving, is invited to attend along with mental health care providers, and government officials.
So far, no arrests have been made into Keizer’s death and police say the investigation is ongoing.
Keizer's girlfriend says she's hoping an arrest is made quickly. Catherine Castelluci tells CTV News a memorial is being planned for Keizer in the Halifax area next week.
Police are still asking anyone who may have witnessed Keizer’s death to contact them.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Suzette Belliveau
