'One gun death is too many': Increased gun violence a concern for Halifax mayor
Halifax Regional Police responded to a pair of shooting incidents this week, which investigators now say may be connected.
The increasing level of gun violence in the region is raising concerns in the community and from the city’s mayor.
"Generally we are a pretty safe city, and, you know, we are proud of that, but we have too much gun violence and obviously one gun death is too many," said Halifax Mayor Mike Savage.
On Thursday, police closed this section of Haliburton Avenue and Wright Avenue in Dartmouth for a shooting investigation.
Forensic identification officers focused on a bullet hole in the windshield of a security van parked in front of the OK Tire on Wright Avenue.
It's the thirteenth shooting incident Halifax Regional Police have responded to this year.
A man is currently recovering from non-life-threatening injuries in a Halifax hospital after he was shot while sitting in his pick-up truck in Bedford, N.S., Wednesday night.
Police believe the two incidents may be connected.
In the past four months, Halifax police confirmed four people have been killed by guns and they have laid charges in one of the killings.
"Certainly we understand the communities concern," said HRP Const. John MacLeod. "Anytime these kinds of incidents occur, the potential for somebody to be injured or killed is extremely high, which is why we do everything we can to not only investigate these incidents, but to make sure we're doing what we can to proactively pull firearms off the street."
Last month, Halifax police opened an anonymous gun tip line, to encourage community members to bring forward any information relating to gun crimes.
“As long as we can have that information, it’s invaluable," said MacLeod. "It might be that one piece that we need to move an investigation forward, to solve some of these crimes.
Halifax isn’t the only Canadian city dealing with an increase in gun violence, says Savage, who is also the chair of the Big City Mayors' Caucus. The mayor says gun violence is up right across Canada, as cities deal with both an increasing level of gun activity and increased trafficking of illegal guns.
"All cities in Canada have seen, and around the world I think have seen, an increase in gun violence," said Savage. "While crime generally has gone down over the last number of years, the level of gun violence has increased and we're concerned about that and it's certainly on the chief's (Halifax Regional Police Chief Dan Kinsella) mind and the police officers who have to deal with this on the front line."
Halifax police have confiscated 89 guns through their investigations so far this year, says MacLeod.
“We know when we take those firearms off the street they can’t be used further for any violent means.”
In 2021, HRP dealt with more than 60 gun-related incidents. This year, they've responded to 13 shooting incidents so far– four of which have been fatal.
MacLeod says, for the most part, investigators believe the shootings are not random incidents, but any amount of gun violence is concerning.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.