The RCMP has laid multiple charges against four men and one teenager in connection with the death of a man whose body was found in the trunk of a stolen car in North Preston, N.S. last month.
Police received a report of a stolen black Honda Civic shortly before 2 p.m. on Aug. 23. A short time later, officers found the vehicle in the St. Thomas Baptist Church Cemetery on Upper Governor Street.
The body of 26-year-old Tylor Donovan McInnis was found in the trunk of the car.
An autopsy confirmed McInnis was the victim of a homicide, but police have not released a cause of death.
Police executed a search warrant at a home on Silistria Drive in Cole Harbour shortly after 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and arrested three men without incident.
A fourth man was arrested at a home on Willis Lane in North Preston. A 17-year-old boy was arrested at a school in Cole Harbour a short time later.
Three of the accused have been charged with first-degree murder, among other charges, in McInnis’ death.
“We're at the point that we don't think that these people should be released in the community. It's public safety and we're intent to hold them,” said Crown attorney Melanie Perry.
Shawntez Neco Downey, 24, of North Preston is facing charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault with a weapon, robbery extortion, kidnapping and unlawful confinement.
Daniel Romeo Downey, 18, of North Preston is facing charges of first-degree murder, robbery, extortion, kidnapping and unlawful confinement.
Nicco Alexander Smith, 25, of Cole Harbour is facing charges of first-degree murder, robbery, extortion and unlawful confinement.
Judson Lemar Falls, 34, of North Preston is facing charges of accessory after the fact and unlawful confinement.
The teen, who is from Eastern Passage, is charged with accessory after the fact.
RCMP won't say what lead to the arrests or whether McInnis was murdered in the cemetery or elsewhere.
Police say the murder was not a random act and at least some of the accused knew McInnis. They won't say whether his death is linked to any other murders.
“We continue to investigate all of the other unsolved homicides in Halifax, and we know that there's people out there, like I said, with information,” said Trudy Bangloy of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division.
McInnis' friends and family were in court on Wednesday, as well.
"I'm just thankful people have been arrested,” said McInnis’ mother in a statement. “I'm hoping this will solve Tylor's murder and any other murders that have taken place.”
Four of the accused are due to appear in Dartmouth provincial court on Wednesday. The teen will be appearing in Halifax youth court.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell.
