Victim of Walmart workplace death was 19, Halifax police say

Halifax Regional Police are investigating the sudden death of a 19-year-old woman while she was working at a Walmart in the city's west end. 

Police said they were called to the store Saturday night around 9:30 p.m. local time and found the woman dead. 

Investigators are now trying to determine how the employee died and working closely with the provincial Labour Department and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner, police said in a news release Monday.

Police have not said whether they believe the circumstances of the woman's death were criminal in nature. 

Const. Martin Cromwell spoke to reporters Monday afternoon and declined to provide further details beyond that the investigation is in its early stages. He would not say where in the store the woman died. 

"The investigation is complex," he said. "We just want to encourage the public to be patient with our investigation and be mindful that there is family members and co-workers involved."

He said the Mumford Road store was open to customers when police were called, but was subsequently closed. The store remained closed Monday. 

Satnam Singh Randhawa, chair of the Maritime Sikh Society board, said the woman was a member of the Sikh community.

"It's pretty distressing, you know, young people come here with all kinds of hopes and dreams and they're working hard and then this is what happens," he said. 

Walmart spokesperson Amanda Moss said the company is providing staff members with access to 24/7 virtual care and on-site support, including grief counselling. She did not say when the store will reopen and did not release any further information about the employee.

"We are heartbroken and our deepest thoughts are with our associate and their family," Moss said in a statement to CBC News. "We extend our sincerest condolences to those who were closest to them."

In a statement to CBC News later on Monday, Cromwell said while a forensic identification unit is on site, other police investigators and agencies will not be able to access the area "to preserve the integrity of the scene and its evidence."

"When that work is complete, HRP investigators and other agencies like [Occupation Health and Safety] will then be provided access," Cromwell added.

The Labour Department said Sunday it was aware of the situation and said police have control of the scene. On Monday, the department declined an interview request. 

"We are unable to share further information at this time," the department told CBC News, adding that it extends sympathies to the employee's family.

Police first issued a news release late Saturday night asking people to stay away from the area while they carried out their investigation.

On Monday morning, a police vehicle remained parked outside of the store.