Police in Halifax have confirmed a man found dead near Dartmouth Sunday night is the victim of a homicide.
An autopsy has revealed that 55-year-old James Alexander (Sandy) Lyle of Dartmouth was shot to death.
Police discovered Lyle's body on the shoulder of Montague Road in Montague Gold Mines around 10:30 p.m. Sunday and investigators remained on the scene Monday where they searched around a black car.
Investigators also spent time Monday collecting evidence from a home at 14 Cannon Terrace, which provincial records indicate belongs to the victim and Carla Balsor, who operate The Rodeo Lounge in Dartmouth.
Police confirmed that the Montague Road crime scene was connected to the investigation at the Cannon Terrace home, which is several kilometers away in Dartmouth.
The home is assessed at more than $400,000.
Some of their neighbours said Monday they were surprised by the events while others seemed resigned.
"We don't normally have a lot of crime and that in this neighbourhood, other than the occasional car break-in and whatnot," said one area resident. "It's a little surprising."
"We don't want it, but it's all around us," said another. "The police do their job and do it very well."
Some neighbours told CTV News the couple was very private and there was lots of security around their home, from an intercom system at the front door to surveillance cameras.
They also noted a generator behind the home operated at unusual times.
CTV News spoke to patrons at The Rodeo Lounge and they described Lyle and Balsor as a generous and friendly couple who owned and managed the establishment.
Balsor is the registered agent for the bar and patrons say the atmosphere was subdued when she stopped in Monday.
Police are asking anyone who may have noted suspicious activity in the Montague Road area, or in the Cannon Terrace area near the couple's home, on Sunday to contact them.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ron Shaw
