Mariner Auctions co-owner Brian Barker said the investigation unfolded in the business’s parking lot, but said he doesn’t know any specifics of the case
HALIFAX — An armed man is dead after being shot by a police officer in the Halifax area early Saturday morning, Nova Scotia’s police watchdog said.
Serious Incident Response Team director Felix Cacchione said the man, who has yet to be publicly identified, died after an officer discharged their weapon in a commercial area of the Darmouth community of Westphal.
“Police shot at the man who is deceased, and I can tell you that he, from what I’ve seen now, had a weapon with him,” Cacchione said in a phone interview Saturday afternoon.
Several police vehicles and ambulances were on scene throughout the morning and afternoon, with a large area taped off by police — a yellow tarp covering something on the ground beneath a makeshift tent.
SiRT is called in to investigate all serious incidents — including deaths, serious injuries, and sexual assaults — involving police in Nova Scotia.
Mariner Auctions co-owner Brian Barker said the investigation unfolded in the business’s parking lot, but said he doesn’t know any specifics of the case.
He said staff have been using the back doors of the business all morning.
Dave McKenna, owner of a nearby taekwondo and jiu-jitsu centre, said he didn’t see anything, but heard some banging noises at around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.
“I recall hearing some bangs earlier in the morning and I thought it was a forklift,” he said.
RCMP said the area between part of Broom Road and Highway 7 in Westphal was closed to the public due to a heavy police presence Saturday morning and afternoon.
