The search for a missing Mount Allison University student has been called off in Sackville, N.B.
An extensive air and ground search for 20-year-old Christopher Metallic was scaled back Thursday morning.
“Following that, we had some searches going on this morning and the searches have now been completed,” says Cpl. Elise Cote, District 4 RCMP.
Metallic was last seen leaving a house party on Allison Street early Sunday morning.
There are reports the third-year university student may have stopped at a pizza shop on Main Street after leaving the party, but police have not been able to confirm that.
An RCMP helicopter, K9 unit and Ground Search and Rescue volunteers have been searching for the young man since he was reported missing.
Yesterday, search crews scoured a wooded area in Upper Sackville after an area resident found a sandal and some footprints near his property.
Police also expanded their search yesterday to a wooded area off of Route 940 in the Upper Aboujagne Road area, heading toward Shemogue.
Police said they were focusing their search in that area after they received information a person was seen walking on the Upper Aboujagne Road around 5:30 a.m. Sunday.
However, police called off the search Thursday morning, saying they have already covered the areas they see of value, based on information they have right now.
"The investigation into his disappearance is continuing and we are doing our best to find him," says RCMP Cpl. Chantal Farrah. "Depending on information received or on evidence collected, more searches are possible."
Police are encouraging anyone with tips to come forward.
Meanwhile, students at Mount Allison University are on edge.
“He was just a really, really, loving, caring guy,” says friend Norma Jean Worden-Rogers, who was at the house party where Metallic was last seen.
“The word just spread so quickly and everybody is so concerned because if something really bad happened, we are all at risk now.”
“Everyone knows at least one person who knew him and so it has really affected most of the school personally,” says student Jason Schandl.
Ron Byrne, vice-president of international and student affairs at Mount Allison, says the school is offering counseling and regular email updates on Metallic’s disappearance.
“We also held a community vigil two nights ago in which we lit a candle to symbolize Chris is missing. It will stay lit until Chris is returned to us.”
Family and friends have set up a Facebook page to draw attention to Metallic’s disappearance and are offering a reward.
Metallic is described as aboriginal with short, dark hair and glasses. He is six-feet-tall and 180 pounds.
He was last seen wearing a shiny, bright blue sweater and jeans.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police at 1-888-506-RCMP (7267).
With files from CTV Atlantic's David Bell
