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Three people have been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of 41-year-old Chris Leggett in Amherst, N.S., on Monday.
Moncton, N.B., residents Sean Eugene Patriquin, 56, and Natasha Deborah Austin, 42, were arrested by Codiac RCMP after a warrant was issued on Thursday, according to the Amherst Police Department. There is also a warrant for Michael James Ryan, 34, of Springhill.
Amherst police Chief Dwayne Pike said the suspects’ names came up “very early in the investigation.” He would not comment on the relationship to Leggett as he said the investigation is ongoing.
“We’ve had a lot of information coming in from the public, and we really appreciate the assistance,” he said.
“I’m quite certain that [Ryan’s] aware that we’ve been looking for him and that he’s actively evading us.”
Police said anyone who sees Ryan — who has brown hair, blue eyes, is 5’10” tall and weighs about 190 pounds — is asked not to approach him.
Amherst police said Michael James Ryan, 34, shown in an undated photograph, has been charged with first-degree murder. (Submitted by Amherst Police Department)
Amherst police received a report of a loud bang on Prince Arthur Street just before 7 p.m. on Monday.
Leggett was found on the ground, seriously wounded from a single gunshot to the lower back. He was transported to the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre where he was pronounced dead.
The hospital implemented “access control” around 8:30 p.m. Monday, a measure that was lifted at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, according to Nova Scotia’s health authority.
“Access control is generally used in situations where there is a hazard that requires people to remain in a safe area, but does not necessitate completely securing the facility,” a health authority spokesperson said in a statement.
“It is important to note that the vast majority of situations are managed through access control, and that full lockdowns are used very rarely.”
Police said a dark-coloured Subaru SUV that fled the scene has also been seized by Codiac RCMP. The licence plate on the vehicle at the time was reported stolen earlier this month from the Moncton area, according to police.
An altercation between a number of people and the victim occurred near the intersection of Prince Arthur Street and Church Street, according to police. Leggett ran as one person got out of the vehicle with what appeared to be a long gun and shot him.
“It’s been a busy week for us, as you can imagine. Our members have been working around the clock on this,” said Pike.
Amherst police are working with Truro Police Service, Cumberland RCMP and New Brunswick RCMP during the investigation.
“This is a very tragic incident, and we can’t lose sight of that. This is completely devastating for the family of Chris Leggett. Our hearts and prayers are with them at this time,” said Pike.
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