RCMP have charged a Bayhead, N.S. man, who was wounded in a shootout with police, with first-degree murder in the death of a 58-year-old woman.
Ernie “Junior” Ross Duggan, 49, is also charged with attempted murder, in relation to an exchange of gunfire with RCMP.
READ MORE: Man wounded in police shooting in Tatamagouche, N.S. after woman found dead in home
Police responded to a 911 call from a residence on Clarks Road in Bayhead shortly before midnight on Sunday and found the woman’s body.
The director of Nova Scotia’s Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), Ron MacDonald, told reporters on Monday the woman had been shot.
“Very nice people”
Those who live in the small community say they are shocked by what’s happened, especially considering how tight-knit all the neighbours are.
Neighbours have told Global News the victim was Susie Butlin, a real estate agent who lists her address as 56 Clarks Rd on her website. Phone directory records show Duggan lives next door.
“We know them in the small neighbourhood. We know everybody and it’s so close by. Both are very nice people,” said neighbour, Adriaan Eelman.
“In the neighbourhood, you know quite a bit of each other and they’re nice community people, very pleasant. You hear this, it’s wondering why it happened.”
Eelman calls the situation “totally unreal” and can’t imagine what could have led to the violence.
“Very nice lady. She sometimes stood on the road with her grandchildren and brought them to the bus. Was a nice grandmother,” he said.
Exchange of gunfire followed long stand-off
Shortly after discovering the homicide scene, RCMP were able to find a suspect. Police say he drove away and led them to the Lockerbie Memorial Cemetery on Highway 6 in Tatamagouche.
RCMP say they “verbally engaged” with the suspect who was inside the vehicle for several hours, before gunfire was exchanged at around 7 a.m.
According to MacDonald, three officers were involved in the shooting.
Duggan was taken to hospital for treatment and remains there. Due to his condition, police say his court appearance has not been scheduled yet.
WATCH ABOVE: A man was wounded in a shootout with RCMP in Tatamagouche, N.S. after the body of a woman was found in a home in nearby Bayhead. Steve Silva reports.
SiRT is now investigating the police-involved shooting.