Man charged with second-degree murder in Halifax homicide
Mitchell William Coles, 26, has been charged in the death of 21-year-old Damien Lamoureux
Update, Dec. 13, 2021: The charge of second-degree murder against Mitchell Coles was withdrawn on July 29, 2021 in Halifax provincial court. Coles said he acted in self-defence, and the Crown determined there was no realistic prospect of conviction.
Halifax Regional Police have charged a 26-year-old man with second-degree murder in the death of Damien Lamoureux.
Police say they originally received a report of gunfire in downtown Halifax around 8:30 p.m. Friday.
Lamoureux, 21, was found injured at the intersection of Barrington and Morris streets.
Police initially believed Lamoureux had been shot, but after an investigation they determined he had actually been stabbed.
He died of his injuries late Friday.
'A super-kind person'
Lamoureux is originally from Ottawa, but moved to Nova Scotia to start a new life with his girlfriend after his mother died in 2018.
"I feel like he finally found his happiness out there," his sister, Bailey Lamoureux, told CBC News from her home in Ottawa.
Damien was one of four children.
Bailey Lamoureux said her younger brother was a "really good uncle" to her young son. He often called them on FaceTime since his move to the East Coast.
"He was a super-kind person. You know, he always went out of his way to do anything he could for anyone, even if that meant giving them his last five dollars," she said.
The family hopes to be able to have a small service in Ottawa when the pandemic allows so Damien's fiancée can also be there.
"He's gonna be missed, he's already missed. He's really loved by so many people," Bailey said.
Second-degree murder charge
Police say they don't have any evidence that a shooting occurred as part of this incident.
An autopsy was completed on Saturday and the death has been ruled a homicide.
Three people were arrested at the scene.
One of them, Mitchell William Coles, 26, of Halifax, was charged Saturday with second-degree murder and possession of a weapon while prohibited.
Police say Coles is expected in court on Tuesday around 10 a.m.
The other two people were released without charges.
Police don't believe this was a random incident and aren't looking for any other suspects.
Anyone with information about this incident to call police at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by submitting a secure web tip or by using the P3 Tips app.