Steven Skinner, wanted in Stacey Adams murder, arrested in Venezuela

A Cole Harbour man wanted on an international arrest warrant for the 2011 shooting death of Stacey Adams has been arrested in Venezuela.

A post on the Instagram account of Venezuelan police director Douglas Rico shows a photo of a detained Steven Douglas Skinner, who has been on the run for five years.

Skinner has been charged with second-degree murder.

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In a release, RCMP and Halifax Regional Police thanked police and government in Venezuela for their help, and said they are working on the extradition process.

RCMP confirm Skinner was arrested on Margarita Island. He was carrying a Venezuelan identification card bearing the name James Alexander O’Neill Pirela, according to Venezuelan authorities.

“It’s fantastic to have him arrested after five years plus,” said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jennifer Clarke.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's fantastic to have him arrested after five years plus," said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jennifer Clarke.

“After such a horrible crime, it’s excellent that we’re able to make an arrest and the process of returning him back here is underway.”

A post on the Facebook page Justice for Stacey Adams thanks the Venezuelan authorities for apprehending Skinner.

“On behalf of the family of Stacey Adams we would like to express our humble gratitude to the Venezuela government and police for the arrest of Steven Skinner,” the post reads.

Impact of Stacey Adams death still felt

Adams’s murder has been at the forefront of peoples’ minds in Halifax recently, after the shooting deaths of four young men shook many in the community.

Joseph Cameron was shot and killed at the age of 20. His body was found on a Dartmouth sidewalk on March 29. He was reportedly wearing a shirt with Adams’ photo on it when he was killed.

Friends and family members who attended Cameron’s memorial service also wore clothing with the name Stacey Adams on them, hoping to draw strength and also make a statement about the senseless losses of young men in their communities.