RCMP identify North Preston man killed Saturday

A 20-year-old man from North Preston is the latest victim in a series of violent deaths in the Halifax region this week.

RCMPidentified him late Saturday afternoon asDavericoDowney.

RCMP initially treatedhis death as suspicious, but confirmed it is ahomicide in a news release. Police sayit appears Downey was shot.

Gunshots

Policesaid they were called out to Downey Road in North Prestonat about 2 a.m. The victim was found dead outside.

"We had received calls that gunshots had been fired in the area," said Const. TammyLobb."Upon members responding, they located someone on Downey Road."

Lobb said there will be an increased police presence in the Preston area and they are asking anyone with information to come forward.

"We need infoanymore infoabout forms of retaliation or acts of violence," Lobb said."Please call us."

Three deaths

Saturday's homicide follows a string of gun-related deathsin the Halifax region.

Tyler Richards, 29, was found dead in a Cook Avenue house Sunday evening. Theformer St. Francis Xavier University basketball star and ex-HalifaxRainmenplayerwas the victim of a homicide, police confirmed.

"Tyler will be greatly missed by so many, but the memories of him live on in every dribble of a basketball, every layup, and every swish of the net," his obituary says.

Richards had two daughters, according to his obituary.

Lobb said there would be an increased police presence at Richards' funeral in Dartmouth Saturday afternoon.

Naricho Clayton, 23, was shot and killed on GottingenStreet Tuesday night. A 31-year-old man, who has not identified by police, was also injured in the shooting.

Clayton had a son and several godchildren, his obituary says.

"Naricho loved basketball, taekwondo and to just be around family and friends," it says.

Police saidSaturday morning they couldn't saywhether this latest death is related.

"At this time we won't be confirming whether or not this is connected to the other ones," Lobb said.

"But I can tell you that would be part of the investigation."

Downey Road was blocked for several hours to vehicle traffic early Saturday morning, but has since reopened.