Police working around the clock to solve recent Halifax homicides

Halifax Regional Police and RCMP say investigators are working around the clock to solve a recent rash of homicides in the municipality.

In just over a week, three young men, all under 30 years old, lost their lives to gun violence.

The latest victim, 20-year-old Daverico Downey, was shot to death in North Preston on Saturday.

“We haven’t really been able to draw any connections between the two that happened in Halifax and the one that happened in Preston,” said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jennifer Clarke.

“We’re not ruling that out but we haven’t made that connection.”

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Halifax Police say there are possible connections between the deaths of Tyler Richards, found dead inside a home on Cook Avenue on April 17 and Naricho Clayton, who was fatally shot on Gottingen Street two days later.

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

However, officers are staying tight lipped on possible suspects in the homicides.

“With respect to Naricho Clayton, we do have a suspect that we’re actively looking for and the Tyler Richards investigation is very active and ongoing,” said HRP spokesperson Const. Dianne Woodworth.

RCMP won’t say if there is a connection between the three homicides and a shooting that happened in North Preston on April 16, one day before Tyler Richards was found dead.

No one was injured in that shooting but multiple bullets struck both a home and a vehicle on Cain Street.

On Friday, RCMP arrested two men after executing a search warrant in North Preston. Police confirm that they located three guns and ammunition as part of their search.

Leonard Thomas Evans and Leonard Fraser now face several weapons-related charges. It’s believed the men are the father and brother of Tyler Richards.

RCMP wouldn’t confirm the connection, or whether they are exploring that link as part of their investigation.

The 29-year-old basketball star was laid to rest over the weekend at a funeral service in Dartmouth.

“We’re really trying to consider all the information that’s out there and hopefully get some information from any witnesses that come forward and hopefully try to bring all this together,” said Clarke.

Police continue to say there is no evidence linking the homicide of Joseph Cameron to the other fatal shootings. Cameron was found shot to death on a Dartmouth sidewalk on March 31. Investigators have not yet made an arrest in connection with his death.

“We’ve had a few members of our community be victims of homicide in the last week or more. I can understand that can be unnerving to people. What we have to understand is that these aren’t random acts,” Woodworth said.

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“However these people are the victims and loved by people, so we want to bring some conclusion to their family members and friends.”

On Sunday, hundreds of people marched through the streets of Halifax calling for an end to the gun violence currently plaguing the city.

“As a whole community of Halifax, you know, North Preston, East Preston, every community, Spryfield, Bedford, we all need to stand together as this and take back our streets,” said Quentrel Provo, organizer and advocate.

Anyone with any information about the recent homicides is asked to contact Halifax Regional Police, RCMP or Crime Stoppers.