Police and the provincial government are taking additional steps to help solve the recent homicides of four young men in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The homicides this year of Joseph Cameron, Tyler Bradley Richards, Naricho Clayton and Daverico Downey have been added to the Major Unsolved Crimes Program. The program provides a potential financial incentive of up to $150,000 to anyone who shares information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for these homicides.

“The recent gun violence in our communities, and the deaths of four young men is tragic,” said Justice Minister Diana Whalen. “My heart goes out to the families of the victims during this very difficult time, and I want to assure them that myself, the police and our partners are working hard to address this issue.

“There are no quick answers or easy solutions, but by adding these crimes to the Major Rewards Program, we are hopeful that people who may have information will come forward to help solve these crimes.”

On March 29, police responded to a report of shots fired in the Spring Avenue-Mount Edward Road area of Dartmouth. Officers located Joseph Cameron on the sidewalk who died as a result of being shot.

On April 17, a 911 call was received about an unresponsive male inside a residence on Cook Avenue in Halifax. Police responded to the residence and located Tyler Bradley Richards who died as a result of being shot.

On April 19, officers responded to the Gottingen Street area in Halifax after hearing gunfire. Officers located a vehicle that had left the roadway and discovered two male victims inside. Both males appeared to have been shot. Naricho Clayton was pronounced dead at the scene and the other male suffered serious injuries.

On April 23, police responded to a report of shots fired and a vehicle leaving at a high speed in the area of Downey Road in North Preston. Officers located a deceased male on the ground near a residence on Downey Road. The male was later identified as Daverico Downey who died as a result of being shot.

“Adding four homicides to the rewards program at once and within weeks of the homicides occurring is a highly unusual step for investigators, but this is also a highly unusual time for our community,” said Supt. Jim Perrin, officer-in-charge of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division. “We are hopeful that the addition of these young men’s deaths to the program will prompt someone to come forward and allow us to progress the investigations as has happened in the past with other files.

“Ultimately, we benefit from community co-operation to further these investigations, which means people being willing to break the code of silence by calling police, Crime Stoppers or the Major Unsolved Crimes Program.”

Police believe there are people who have information that could result in an arrest and possible charges. Anyone with information should call the Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program at 1-888-710-9090.

Those who come forward with information must provide their name and contact information. They may be called to testify in court. All calls will be recorded.

The Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program was launched in October 2006 as an additional tool to help police gather information on unsolved crimes. For more information about this case and others, visit novascotia.ca/just/Public_Safety/Rewards/.

Source: Release