Tylor McInnis homicide results in 3 men charged with 1st-degree murder

Three men have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Tylor Donovan McInnis, a 26-year-old man whose body was found in the trunk of a stolen car in August.

They are among the five people arrested Wednesday in connection to the Halifax man's homicide.

Shawntez Neco Downey, Daniel Romeo Downey and Nicco Alexander Smith are all charged with first-degree murder.Judson Lemar Falls and a 17-year-old male whose identity is protected by a publication ban are charged with accessory after the fact.

The four men appeared in Dartmouth provincial court on Wednesday. Their caseshave beenput over until Nov. 2.

'They can all rot in hell'

Some of McInnis's family and friends wore T-shirts to court with the words,"Rest in paradise Tylor McInnis."

As the family left the courtroom, one of them said about the accused:"They can all rot in hell."

Crown prosecutor Melanie Perry said the she would be opposing bail because of the "extremely serious" nature of the charges.

"We're at the point that these people shouldn't be released in the community. It's public safety and we're intent to hold them," she told reporters outside the courtroom.

The CBC's Blair Rhodes live bloggedthe court proceedings.

Full list of charges

• Shawntez Neco Downey, 24, of North Preston, is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault with a weapon, robbery, extortion, kidnapping and unlawful confinement.
• Daniel Romeo Downey, 18, of North Preston, is charged with first-degree murder, robbery, extortion, kidnapping and unlawful confinement.
• Nicco Alexander Smith, 25, of Cole Harbour, is charged with first-degree murder, robbery, extortion and unlawful confinement.
• Judson Lemar Falls, 34, of North Preston, is charged with accessory after the fact and unlawful confinement.
• A 17-year-old male from Eastern Passage is charged with accessory after the fact.

ShawntezDowney, Daniel Downey andFalls are asking for Legal Aid to provide them with lawyers ahead of their next court date. Smith has hired lawyer Patrick MacEwan to represent him.

Three of the men were arrested Tuesday, shortly after 6:30 a.m., after police used a search warrant at a house on Silistria Drive in Cole Harbour. The fourth man was arrested at a house on Willis Lane in North Preston.

The male youth was arrested at an undisclosed school in Cole Harbour.

Not a random act

McInnis's body was found by police in the trunk of a stolen Honda Civic at the St. Thomas Baptist Church cemetery in North Preston. After an autopsy the RCMP confirmed McInnis was the victim of a homicide.

Police have not disclosed how he died. They said they were looking into connections between his homicide and a string of shooting deaths that took place in the Halifax area this spring.

Police said they didn't believe McInnis's death was a random act.

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