Daverico Downey

In the close-knit community of North Preston, Nova Scotia, Daverico Downey was a young man known for his love of family. He was just weeks away from his 21st birthday when his life was cut short. His death was one of several homicides that shook the Halifax area in 2016, prompting pleas from community members and family to break the silence and help investigators find justice.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, April 23, 2016, the sound of gunshots broke the stillness on Downey Road. At approximately 2:00 a.m., Halifax District RCMP responded to reports of shots being fired. When they arrived, officers discovered the body of 20-year-old Daverico Downey, a male resident of North Preston, on a pathway near a home. An autopsy later confirmed he died from gunshot wounds, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.

The initial investigation revealed that two vehicles were seen fleeing the North Preston area at high speed shortly after the gunshots were heard. Police identified a white car leaving from the Alex Lane area and a dark-coloured SUV as vehicles of interest. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) appealed to the public for any information about these vehicles or anyone who might have been in the area at the time of the shooting.

Five months later, on September 29, 2016, the investigation appeared to gain momentum. RCMP officers arrested a 33-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man at separate residences in nearby Dartmouth. A vehicle was also seized from one of the homes as part of a search warrant. However, the following day, both individuals were released from custody without any charges being laid. The investigation continued, with police urging the public to come forward. "This young man did have a family. Think about the family and what they're going through," an RCMP spokesman said at the time.

In the years since, Daverico’s case has remained an active investigation. On the first, second, and third anniversaries of his death, the RCMP has renewed its public appeal for information, reminding the community that even the smallest detail could be the key to solving the crime. A relative of Daverico and two other homicide victims from that year made a public plea, asking people to step up and reject the "no snitching rule" that often hinders investigations in their community.

The case was added to the Nova Scotia Department of Justice Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program. This program offers a substantial financial incentive for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Daverico's murder.

As of April 2019, the homicide of Daverico Downey remains unsolved. Investigators with the Halifax District RCMP continue to believe that there are people who have crucial information about the circumstances of his death and who was responsible. They urge those individuals to do the right thing and come forward.

The Government of the Province of Nova Scotia is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call the Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program at 1-888-710-9090. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers.