Halifax police say Tyler Ronald Joseph Keizer is the latest victim in an ongoing wave of gun violence.
Staff Sgt. Bill Morris says the 22-year-old man was gunned down behind the wheel of an SUV while parked in a small empty lot in area of Falkland and Gottingen streets around 10:47 p.m. Monday.
Keizer sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital, where he later died.
“We had our K9 unit, our emergency response team, attempting to locate the suspect who we believe fled the area on foot and possibly got into a vehicle,” said Morris.
Scott Baker, who works as a cook at a nearby pub, says a patron heard gunshots and the head bartender called police.
“Local civilians running down, yelling that they heard shots, and we said we heard the same and all we could hear is the girl in the car just in hysterics and in complete shock and screaming,” said Baker, who arrived on scene before police.
Baker says he tried to help, but there was nothing he could do.
“When I saw him … I thought he was already dead,” he said. “He was shot. He got shot in the head."
Monday night’s homicide was the 12th in Halifax this year, and the third in nine days. Tyler Keizer’s death was only a stone’s throw away from the killing of 23-year-old Naricho Clayton on April 19. Clayton was one of three men shot to death in that week alone.
Police have not confirmed whether Monday’s incident is connected to the recent string of shootings in the Halifax area.
“We can’t put anything together right now,” said Morris. “Until the detectives start putting together who the victim is and who the suspects are, they’re not going to link anything together.”
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Bruce Frisko.
