Tyrell Peter Dechamp's violent past includes murder, assault convictions

A mansought by Halifax Regional Police in the wake of deadly shootings in the city was released from prison just two months ago andhas a violent criminal past,includinga conviction for murder when he was a teen.

On Wednesdaynight, police appealed to the public for help finding Tyrell Peter Dechamp, who's wanted for being unlawfully at large.

Dechamp failed to return to his Halifax residence by his 11p.m. curfew on April 19the same night 23-year-old Naricho Clayton was gunned down on Gottingen Street. Another man was wounded in the incident.

Clayton's death was the second of three fatal shootings in just the past couple of weeks.

Canada-wide warrant issued

Police refuseto say whether Dechamp is a suspect or a person of interest in any of the shootings. But they've said he should be considered armed and dangerous. A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Dechamp was convicted in 2009 for a murder he committed two years before28-year-old Matthew James Ayre was stabbed to death on Gottingen Street on Oct.15, 2007.

Dechamp was sentenced to four years in prison and three years supervision in the community. He was sentenced under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, protecting his identity at the time.

'Only dumb luck'

His identity became publicduring a 2012 sentencing for a violent crime he committed as an adult.Dechamp was sentenced to an additional three years in prison after hesucker-punched a woman the previous October.

The woman intervened in a verbal dispute and Dechamp attacked her. The incident happened in the overnight hours in the downtown Halifax bar district.

The woman crumpled to the pavement, striking her head. She suffered serious head and brain injuries. She lost time at work and suffered financial problems as a result.

"He's lucky, because he's not here today on another murder charge, and that's only dumb luck because that woman's brain was swelling," Chief Justice Joseph Kennedy said in sentencing Dechamp in Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

"People who aren't so lucky are people who run into Mr. Dechamp in circumstances where he's likely to become angry because he does dramatic damage to them."

'There's something the matter with you'

The sentencing was part of a plea arrangement between Crown and defence. While he accepted the agreed sentence, Kennedy also made his own views very clear.

"There's something the matter with you, Mr. Dechamp seriously the matter, and we cannot allow you to function in society."

Problems continued for Dechamp once he was sent to prison.

The Parole Board of Canada noted that he assaulted inmates including a stabbing incident and threatened prison staff.

In a decision made in February 2016 when Dechamp had reached his statutory release date, the parole board said of him:"Your reintegration potential was first rated as medium but has since been decreased to low."

Due tocontinuing concerns about his risk and behaviour, the parole board imposed a number of conditions on Dechamp's release. He was ordered to stay away from his victim and her family, abstain from alcohol and drugs and not to associate with other known criminals.