Men charged in North Preston homicide involved in gangs: parole documents

CTV Atlantic: Two arrested in homicide Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of 20-year-old Daverico Downey. Kayla Hounsell reports.

Parole documents obtained by CTV News indicate that some of the men charged with the murder of a Halifax man were involved in gangs.

Shawntez Neco Downey, 24, Daniel Romeo Downey, 18, and Nicco Alexander Smith, 25, are charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 26-year-old Tylor McInnis.

Police received a report of a stolen black Honda Civic shortly before 2 p.m. on Aug. 23. A short time later, officers found the vehicle in the St. Thomas Baptist Church Cemetery on Upper Governor Street.

The body of McInnis was found in the trunk of the car.

The three men, along with two others, appeared in court on Wednesday to face the charges.

Shawntez Downey is also charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, unlawful confinement, extortion, assault with a weapon, and robbery.

Prior to these latest charges, he did federal time for possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition, having that weapon in a vehicle and fleeing police.

The Parole Board of Canada revoked his statutory release in 2015.

That decision points to the nature and severity of his offences, and the risk for serious harm should he be released into the community.

Social media accounts indicate both Shawtez Downey and his brother, Daniel Downey, are associated with the gang “Head Bustin' Crew,” known as HBC.

The RCMP won't confirm that connection, but say they are aware of the group.

“I don't know about their gang strategy exactly,” said Nova Scotia Justice Minister Diana Whalen. “I know that they definitely look at crime and the incidents of crime across the province and do their best to get to the bottom of each one of these areas where crime might exist.”

Shawntez Downey's parole board documents state, "You have a tendency to associate with pro-criminal individuals and such association is closely linked to your criminality."

Sources tell CTV News Downey was good friends with Naricho Clayton, who was killed on Gottingen Street in April. That murder remains unsolved.

The RCMP is not connecting any of these cases right now, saying only that they continue to investigate all unsolved homicides in the Halifax area.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell.