Halifax Regional Police have identified Rickey Walker has the victim in this week’s fatal shooting.
Police say Walker called them shortly before 3 a.m., on Thursday to report he had been shot. When officers arrived on scene, they found the 48-year-old behind John McNeil Elementary School on Leaman Drive in Dartmouth. He was transported to hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Police say they are still in the early stages of their investigation and will not say where or how many times Walker was shot.
“The details around the cause of death would form part of the investigation and part of the evidence so we won’t be speaking to that,” said Wendy Mansfield, spokesperson for Halifax Regional Police.
WATCH: Police investigating after man fatally shot in Dartmouth
Officers have been scouring the area where Walker was found for evidence but won’t reveal what they have found or if they have been able to recover a murder weapon.
“We’re still in the process of collecting evidence,” said Mansfield. “Investigators are on scene today and they’re actually being assisted by ground search and rescue in the search for potential evidence so they’re still collecting and analyzing it.”
The news of Walker’s death is still spreading through the community. His coworkers at a Halifax call center described him as a great guy and fantastic coworker.
When reached by phone on Friday, members of Walker’s family did not wish to comment about the homicide investigation but did say they would be taking part in a community event Saturday to stand up against violence in the city.
Brandon Walker, Rickey’s nephew, says the family needs time to absorb what happened to their loved one and plan to make a public statement following a march, which will be hosted by Ceasefire Halifax.
“Typically what happens in incidents like this, communities don’t get together to show their unity and solidarity, to take action and respond to violence. So, for us going out and responding, hopefully it sends a broader message to the broader community that violence is not the way,” said Carlos Beals, an outreach worker with Ceasefire.
“When you don’t respond you send the message that violence is the norm right, so what we’re trying to do is denormalize that notion.”
Beals says seeing another fatal shooting in the municipality is hard for everyone, including those working to curb violence in the city.
“It’s something that really, it pulls at your heartstrings. Its something that, I don’t think anyone deserves to lose their life, definitely not by the hands of another person so it’s very, very, very sad.”
Chris Pennell with Elk’s Haircutting was surprised to hear Walker, his longtime customer, was the victim of the fatal shooting.
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“Just kind of surprising when you kind of know somebody or see somebody or made an interaction, even if it was a small relationship, cutting their hair whatever, it’s just a shocking thing. It’s always shocking when you hear about a shooting anyway,” he told Global News.
So far, police have been unable to provide the public with a description of the suspect in the shooting.
“Investigators are still working to diligently identify a suspect. They’re still canvassing the neighbourhood and still asking for anyone with information to contact us if they haven’t contacted us already,” said Mansfield.
Those interested in taking part in the community response to the fatal shooting of Rickey Walker are asked to meet at 2 p.m. at John McNeil Elementary School on September 3.
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