Residents of a small town in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley are in mourning after a homeless man died in a suspicious fire at a bus shelter.
About 2,500 people live in Berwick and many are convinced the fire that killed 62-year-old Harley Lawrence was deliberately set.
At this point, police will only say the fire and Lawrence’s death are considered suspicious.
“I just can’t get it out of my head how much he suffered,” says area resident Donna England.
“Every night after the last bus, he would go there, tuck in his sleeping bag and go to sleep.”
People in the community say Lawrence had become a familiar face on the streets of Berwick and had been living in the Commercial Street bus shelter.
Police and fire crews were called to a fire at the bus shelter around 2:10 a.m. Wednesday. They found Lawrence’s body when they arrived at the scene.
“I’ve seen people around him, tormenting him,” says England. “I’ve seen kids tormenting him but he wouldn’t tell on them because he was scared. Tuesday night I came down and was talking to him and he said ‘they are going to kill me yet.’”
Area resident Daniel Hardy and his friends are also convinced the fire and Lawrence’s subsequent death was no accident.
He says he would often give Lawrence food, which he reluctantly accepted.
“I would walk by and he would smile,” says Hardy. “He seemed like he would recognize me.”
Police say an autopsy was completed Thursday morning but the medical examiner’s office is seeking further information. The incident remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, area residents are paying their respects by leaving flowers and candles at the bus shelter. Kings Transit has declared the stop ‘out of service’ out of respect for Lawrence.
A candlelight vigil will also be held for Lawrence in the Foodland parking lot at 9 p.m. Saturday.
Police say the RCMP Victim Services Program and Annapolis Valley Mental Health Services will be available for counselling, support and referrals for Berwick residents, starting Thursday at 4:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Kings Mutual Century Centre and Berwick Fire Hall on Friday.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Alyse Hand
