Homicide victim Tylor McInnis remembered as 'such a good man'
McInnis spent time in prison but was 'motivated to change,' says Parole Board of Canada
Tylor Donovan McInnis, the latest homicide victim in Halifax, is being remembered by his family as a good man who "would give anyone the shirt off his back."
Cowan McInnis, his younger brother, told CBC News that Tylor was like a father to him growing up.
"He was always there for me, no matter what situation I was in. Whatever I needed, I just asked him," he said in a statement Friday.
"But you didn't have to be his brother to ask him for anything, he would give anyone the shirt off his back."
RCMP still at the scene
On Tuesday, McInnis's body was discovered in the trunk of a stolen Honda Civic that had been parked at the cemetery of St. Thomas Baptist Church in North Preston.
Police have released few details about his death, except to say the 26-year-old man was the victim of a homicide.
Nova Scotia RCMP were still at the cemetery on Friday. Earlier in the week, they had a drone flying over the site to search for clues in the case.
Raising 4 children
Cowan McInnis, who has a baby on the way, plans to name his son after his brother. Tylor was a father, too, of a seven-year-old daughter and two-year-old daughter. He was also helping to raise his girlfriend's 17-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter.
"My brother knew I was naming my son after him and he said he couldn't wait to meet his first nephew," McInnis said.
"My brother was such a good man. He would help anyone in any situation no matter what."
'Make mom proud'
McInnis said there's one memory that will always stay with him. He was in Grade 1 when his brother — who was three years older than him — walked him to school.
"I can remember him walking me to Grade 1 asking me if I knew my ABCs and helping me with homework," he recalled.
He told me, 'Do it for mom. Make mom proud you're her first kid to graduate.'- Cowan McInnis
"When I graduated from high school, he pushed me through it. He told me, 'Do it for mom. Make mom proud you're her first kid to graduate.'"
Criminal past
Tylor McInnis had a criminal past, but his most recent offence was more than four years ago. He was sentenced to three years in prison for having a loaded handgun in a car that was pulled over by police.
At his sentencing, Justice Michael Wood noted that McInnis had been hanging around with the wrong people.
"There may be people in your life who are a positive influence: your partner, your child, your mother, perhaps," Wood wrote in accepting a joint sentencing recommendation for McInnis.
"It seems to me that you should be paying more attention to what those people are saying than some of the people that you have been socializing with or participating with more recently."
Before his conviction on the weapons offence, McInnis was also part of a gang that stabbed a man during a confrontation in the Fairview neighbourhood of Halifax in 2011.
Turned his life around
But it appears the time in prison helped McInnis turn his life around.
"Your motivation, engagement and accountability have all shown marked improvement," the Parole Board of Canada noted in a 2013 decision granting McInnis day parole.
"You present a positive attitude and are motivated to change."
'Positive changes in your attitude'
McInnis did well on his day parole. The parole board subsequently wrote that it was satisfied McInnis had learned from his experience and had made positive changes in his life. It recommended he should be upgraded to full parole.
The main condition the Parole Board of Canada placed on his release was that McInnis stay away from known criminals.
It appears McInnis had no further run-ins with the law since he was released from prison.