Father of four killed in Trenton, N.S. shooting

TRENTON, N.S. – A trip to the store for cigarettes ended in tragedy for a
family in Trenton, N.S. Tuesday night.

Around 8:00 p.m. a man was shot outside his home on Mechanic
St.

Police didn’t officially identify the victim until Thursday morning, but a family
member told Global News Wednesday the victim was Edward William Phalen.

Phalen’s wife, Veronica, heard what she thought were
fireworks before she saw his van in the yard and found the 44-year-old on the
road.

“He must have met somebody in the yard here, because
they had their confrontation right here I guess,” says Darrell Buell, a
relative of Phalen’s wife.

“There was just two loud bangs,” he says.

Buell says Veronica was putting their four children to bed
when her husband was killed.

The Phalen’s only moved into the house six months ago, but
the man was from the Trenton-area.

Police blocked off roads in the town into the early hours of
Wednesday morning and went door-to-door looking for clues and information.

The community is already on edge.

 It’s been more than
two weeks since 19-year-old Amber Kirwan went missing in nearby New Glasgow.

Police won’t say if there’s a connection.

“Police are in the preliminary stages of this
investigation and we’re not eliminating any possible motivation for this
homicide,” says New Glasgow Police Const. Ken MacDonald.

He says it would be “premature to speculate.”

At this time there is no description of any suspect in
relation to Phalen’s death.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to come
forward and contact New Glasgow Police, RCMP or Crime Stoppers at
1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by Secure Web Tips at crimestoppers.ns.ca.