The Halifax Regional Municipality emergency alert has concluded as the shooting suspect has been apprehended, according to the RCMP. The alert was issued by the RCMP on Saturday morning, warning of a potentially dangerous armed individual in the vicinity of Sunnyside Mall in Bedford, N.S. Initially, the Halifax Regional Police indicated the suspect was linked to a shooting in Annapolis Royal, N.S., but the RCMP later clarified that the incident occurred in South Farmington, N.S. Further details about the shooting have not been disclosed by the authorities.
The suspect, described as a 31-year-old white male standing at six feet three inches with brown hair and facial hair, prompted an expanded emergency alert for the entire Halifax Regional Municipality around 12:15 p.m. The alert was lifted just before 1 p.m. following the suspect’s arrest.
During the search operation, customers and staff at The Chickenburger restaurant near Sunnyside Mall were kept inside. Witnesses reported a heavy police presence, including RCMP, Halifax Regional Police, and a police helicopter circling the area.
Wyatt Verdonck, an employee at On the Wedge Pizza inside the mall, mentioned that they sheltered in place after the restaurant was closed by the manager. Despite some evacuations, Verdonck felt secure due to the visible police presence in the area.
Earlier in the day, the RCMP had issued a warning to be on the lookout for a grey Mazda with front-end damage and a broken rear window last seen in New Minas, N.S. Later, a matching vehicle was towed from behind Sunnyside Mall in Bedford. The connection of this vehicle to the ongoing investigation remains unclear, and CBC News has reached out to the RCMP for confirmation.
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