Tyrell Peter Dechamp, currently wanted on a Canada-wide arrest warrant and considered “unlawfully at large”, has a dangerous and storied criminal past.
Dechamp, 26 failed to return to his Halifax home by the set curfew of 11 p.m. on April 19, the same night Naricho Clayton was fatally shot on Gottingen Street.
Halifax Police confirm they are investigating whether or not there is a connection, but refuse to say if they believe Dechamp is involved in the homicide.
“We do have a suspect and we are actively pursuing him, but we are not indicating who that person is,” Const. Dianne Woodworth said Tuesday.
Past convictions, including murder
Dechamp is no stranger to the criminal justice system and has a violent criminal history that dates back several years.
Parole documents obtained by Global News show that Dechamp was previously convicted of second-degree murder as a young offender. He served five years in jail for that offence.
He has also served federal jail time after being convicted for a count of aggravated assault that “wounds, maims, disfigures or endangers the life of the complainant.”
Dechamp has also been charged twice with aggravated assault within the last five years, but both times the charges were withdrawn.
Dechamp is described as a 5’9″ light-complexion black man with a stocky build. He is believed to weigh about 210 pounds and has brown eyes and short black hair.
Anyone with information about Dechamp or his whereabouts is asked to call police at 902-490-5020 or anonymously contact www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.