Halifax shootings prompt calls to end gun violence

People in Halifax are demanding police and politicians stop the gun violence in the city after three shooting incidents in as many days.

"It just seems to be more and more frequent," said Jennifer Wallace, who walks along Quinpool Road every day at lunchtime.

"At two o'clock in the afternoon on Quinpool Road, it seems outrageous to me that I would have to be worried about my safety."

On Thursday, a man was shot on Quinpool Road during a brazen daytime shooting between Oxford and Preston streets. One person was arrested in the incident but later released. No charges have been laid.

On Friday night, 36-year-old Corey Duane Lucas was shot and killed on Clifton Street in the city's north end. Another man, also in his 30s, was wounded.

No arrests have been made in the case, which the police say was linked to drugs.

On Saturday night, a third shooting on Creighton Street left a 19-year-old man injured.

"It is not a safe city," said Jim Hoskins, a retired police officer who is now running for a seat on Halifax regional council.

"I'm disappointed that the mayor and the chief of police aren't out front and centre now, telling the citizens that this is intolerable and we're not going to put up with it anymore."

Halifax Regional Police Deputy Chief Bill Moore said the rash of shootings in Halifax is not normal and the department is concerned.

He said criminals have been told shooting will not be tolerated.

"That's certainly the message we're taking to the criminals," Moore said Monday.

"We may not be doing it over the media but that's one of the things we're going on."

Philip Vaughn, who has lived in central Halifax for 50 years, said he believes areas such as Quinpool Road are safe and he has no plans to change his routines.

"I think it's probably an isolated incident and it's not likely that there would be too many more of them on Quinpool Road, I wouldn't think," he said.

But Larry Burke, who owns Burke & Burke Design on Quinpool Road, said the problem is not confined to one street.

"These kinds of things have been happening all over the city and I think that it needs to be addressed across the city, across all of HRM," he said.