Man in custody after 20-year-old found dead in uptown Saint John
Police still actively investigating and seeking two suspects
One man is in custody after a fatal shooting in uptown Saint John Tuesday morning.
An emergency alert that was in place while police searched for three men was lifted. Schools are no longer in lockdown and residents in the area can leave their homes and resume normal activities, police said.
The investigation continues and police remain in the area.
"We believe at this time it's not a random act of violence," police Chief Robert Bruce said in an interview with CBC News. The investigation was still fluid, he said.
Police posted around 3:30 p.m. that an operation related to the shooting was still happening on Clove Court on the city's west side. Residents there were asked to shelter in place and for others to avoid the area. Bruce said police operations are continuing "where we believe there may be suspects related to this incident."
A news release issued around 1:30 p.m. said police were called about shots fired at about 10:30 a.m. near the corner of Carmarthen Street and King Street East.
Bruce said police found a deceased 20-year-old man in a parking lot near King's Square. A news release from police previously said the victim had been found in a vehicle.
"Three suspects were seen leaving the area on foot headed down Carmarthen Street towards Union Street," the release said.
The trio was described as a white man in dark clothing, a Black man in a light blue hoodie and dark pants, and a white man wearing a dark jacket and with brown hair. The warning did not say if just one or all three men were believed to be armed.
Bruce said the man in custody was apprehended on the west side of the city, but he did not have an exact location. He declined to provide any information about the man in custody or the weapon used in the shooting.
Police looking for witnesses, video
Police are asking for witnesses or anyone with information or video footage to come forward.
Shortly after an alert was issued Tuesday morning, schools in the area were placed on lock down, and the city posted on social media that the city hall office would be closed until it was safe to reopen. The City Market, which borders King's Square, also posted that it had closed due to the lockdown. All have since reopened.
Bruce defended the force's decision not to immediately issue an alert ready.
"People don't understand how quickly these things unfold," he said. "If we thought we had someone out running around the city trying to kill people, we would put one out right away."
He said police want to be sure there is a threat to the public and to have descriptions of suspects before issuing one.
Bruce said the suspect in custody was identified through the picture that was posted by police. He also thanked the public, adding that witnesses were able to give good descriptions to police, who were then able to get good surveillance footage from nearby businesses.
"These people have all been identified by the public. The suspect that's in custody was directly identified from the picture."
With files from Rachel Cave, Mark Leger and Sam Farley