A man is in custody after barricading himself inside his Point Aconi, N.S. home following a shooting Thursday morning.
Cape Breton Regional Police say the 46-year-old man is wanted for allegedly shooting a 24-year-old man at the home next door.
The alleged victim was taken to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his leg.
Police say they were alerted to the shooting around 3 a.m. and, after further investigation, were led to the home on Point Aconi Road.
Officers contained the area and spent several hours negotiating with the man Thursday morning. Some officers had guns drawn, while others were seen speaking with the suspect by phone.
“We had police attempting to make contact with the man by phone inside his residence, and once that happened, there was a conversation that took place, some negotiation, and he willingly came out of his house and surrendered himself to police,” says Cape Breton Regional Police spokeswoman Desiree Vassallo.
He eventually surrendered to police around 11:30 a.m.
Area residents say the incident has left them shaken.
“I thought I heard a shot, but I’m not sure,” says Darlene Hawley. “It makes me feel like I’d better lock my doors.”
“I’ve been living here 76 years and they never ever bothered me,” says Wallace Boutilier, who is the suspect’s third cousin. “He didn’t seem to me to be a guy who would do something like that.”
Police say the suspect and victim are known to one another, but wouldn’t speculate on a possible motive for the shooting. Charges are pending.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ryan MacDonald
