Halifax police search for suspects in 2 weekend shootings

Police in Halifax were searching for suspects following two shootings in Halifax Regional Municipality over the weekend.

The firsthappened on Friday night when a man was shot several times in a drive-by shooting on Creighton Street in Halifax.

Witnesses told police a black luxury car sped away from the scene immediately afterward.

The victims injuries were not considered to be life-threatening and he was later released from hospital.

The second shooting happened in the suburban community of Fall River, just north of Halifax, on Saturday afternoon. Police said several shots were fired at a house on Phillip Drive at 1:50 p.m.

"There was several residents in the house at the time of the shooting but no one was injured," Cpl. Joe Taplin told CBC News on Sunday.

Officers found a bullet hole in front of the residence when they arrived, Taplin said, adding that witnesses saidthey saw a black Acuraleaving the scene at the time of the shooting.

House belongs to well-known drug trafficker

Neighbours told CBC News on Saturday that the house targeted in the shooting belongs to Jimmy Melvin Sr.

Both Melvin and his son, Jimmy Melvin Jr., who both have records for drug traffickingin the Halifax area, have been targets of gunshots since last fall.

Jimmy Melvin Sr., 48, was shot at outside of a pizzeria on Herring Cove Road in Halifax in November 2008. He injured himself when he jumped to avoid the gunshot. The elder Melvinwas paroled in 2006 after serving nearly half of a 22-year sentence for drug trafficking and assaulting a peace officer.

In December 2008, Jimmy Melvin Jr., 26, was shot outside an apartment building just off Cowie Hill Road in Halifax. Heserved a five-year sentence for assault, conspiracy and drug trafficking before he was released from prison in May 2006.

Police were investigating to see whethertheshootingswere connected. They said they were examining bullet shells found at both crime scenes.

Noarrests have been made.