One dead in shooting on Washmill Lake Drive, Halifax police say

One person is dead after a shooting on Washmill Lake Drive near Halifax's Clayton Park Saturday shortly after 5 p.m.

By 8 p.m., the body still lay on a driveway covered by a white tarp. People stood nearby crying and hugging.

"Several" people were taken into custody, and police no longer consider the situation to be active, an officer at the scene said.

Officers could not confirm the deceased person's gender, age or identity. Family arrived shortly after police received the call about shots being fired, officers said.

Armed police officers have an apartment building and front sidewalk cordoned off at 610 Washmill Lake Drive, which is in the apartment complex called the Crown on Regency.

Police said they arrived within seconds of receiving the call about shots fired. They were already in the area because there was a collision between a pedestrian and a vehicle only a few hundred metres away.

Later, two armed officers entered the apartment building. They were seen on a fourth floor balcony with flashlights.

The investigation is in early stages so police would confirm few details. Detectives and emergency response team members were at the scene, along with at least 20 police cars.

Police expect to be on the scene investigating for several hours. The street was closed for several hours but was opened again by 8 p.m.