Halifax Police ask for no more retaliation in light of another fatal shooting

For the second time in a week, police in Halifax are investigating a fatal shooting in the city.

Officers were called to the 2000 block of Gottingen Street shortly before 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Aftermath of Gottingen Street shooting that left one dead caught on camera

When officers arrived, they located a 23-year-old man dead. His name has not been released yet, pending notification of next of kin. Another man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

“I heard a series of loud cracks, loud bangs that I wasn’t sure at the time if it was fireworks or gunfire — it turned out to be gunfire. I guess five or six in rapid succession and then a car crashed into a tree outside my apartment,” said Michael Karanicolas, who lives near where the shooting took place.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I heard a series of loud cracks, loud bangs that I wasn't sure at the time if it was fireworks or gunfire — it turned out to be gunfire. I guess five or six in rapid succession and then a car crashed into a tree outside my apartment," said Michael Karanicolas, who lives near where the shooting took place.

“A few people came out to see if the person was okay. Shortly thereafter, armed police showed up on the scene, screamed at everyone to get on the ground.”

WATCH: A 23-year-old man was killed late Tuesday night on Gottingen Street. It is the third homicide in just 22 days in the city. Natasha Pace reports.

3:18 Halifax Police ask for no more retaliation in light of another fatal shooting

Police believe Tuesday’s shooting may be connected to the death of Tyler Richards, who was killed in Halifax on Sunday.

Groups trying to curb city violence

The two fatalities come as the city deals with a rash of gun-violence. One that the group Ceasefire doubts will be coming to an end anytime soon.

“Summer is coming and summer is always hotter then the other seasons. So we’re anticipating that things will heat up, in which areas — stabbings, shootings — we don’t know, we hope that we can just get our staff out there to try and diffuse anything that may happen,” said Mel Lucas, program manager of Ceasefire.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Summer is coming and summer is always hotter then the other seasons. So we're anticipating that things will heat up, in which areas — stabbings, shootings — we don't know, we hope that we can just get our staff out there to try and diffuse anything that may happen," said Mel Lucas, program manager of Ceasefire.

WATCH BELOW: Ceasefire talks to Global News about the recent shootings in Halifax

2:24 Ceasefire on shootings in Halifax

Ceasefire works in targeted areas of the city to try and stop violence before it erupts. He believes these recent shootings may be linked to the drug trade.

“Gun violence, drugs, yeah, they are really kinda interchangeable sometimes. It may well be that drugs are part of the issue here,” said Lucas.

RELATED: ‘Ceasefire’ program works, says teen trying to turn his life around

Late Tuesday afternoon, Halifax Regional Police and the Nova Scotia RCMP put out a joint statement asking for calm in light of the recent violence in the city.

“Police are as concerned as our citizens about these senseless acts and our investigators are working around the clock to identify and hold accountable those responsible,” the statement reads.

Officials have said the recent shootings involve groups known to each other, who have links to criminality.

“We fully expect that there are people in the community that are aware of what’s going on,” said Bill Moore, Deputy Chief of the Halifax Regional Police.

“We would welcome any information they could provide us to try to number one — stop any retaliation or anything that may be thought about and number two — to assist us in getting this solved.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We would welcome any information they could provide us to try to number one — stop any retaliation or anything that may be thought about and number two — to assist us in getting this solved."

The exception is the homicide of Joseph Cameron, who was found shot to death in Dartmouth last month. Police don’t believe his death is linked, but are still exploring that possibility.

“In some areas there are cliques who just have a beef with one another…sometimes you have some individuals who just don’t care what they do or who they do it too and that’s tough,” said Lucas.

Quentrel Provo, with the group Stop the Violence, has been working for years to try and curb violence in Halifax, in particular among young men.

“These are not women shooting women. These are our young men that are killing each other,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "These are not women shooting women. These are our young men that are killing each other," he said.

“It’s sad going to funerals of guys that are five, 10 years younger than you. You know, mothers burying their sons, you know, kids growing up without their fathers.”

WATCH BELOW: Quentrel Provo of Stop the Violence talks about recent shootings in Halifax

2:34 Stop the Violence talks shootings in Halifax

According to Provo, it’s becoming all too common to see young people in the city turning to guns.

“In our city, it’s become easy, you know what I mean, we got kids getting guns at 15, 16 years old, 17 years old, know what I mean, so that’s high school age, if they can get a gun that easily, we got to do more,” Provo said.

While police work to piece together who is responsible for recent shootings in the city, Provo has a clear message for young men who arm themselves.

“Be a man. Put down the gun and say enough is enough.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Be a man. Put down the gun and say enough is enough."

A March to end violence in Halifax will take place on Sunday at 4 p.m. It will start at the corner of Novela Drive and continue along Gottingen Street to Grand Parade.