Halifax man knew Randall Steven Shepherd and the deceased 19-year-old

A Halifax man who knew two of the people involved in the plot to commit a mass murder at the Halifax Shopping Centre in west end Halifax is shocked to learn of their alleged involvement.

Vincent Appleton says he was acquainted with Randall Steven Shepherd and the 19-year-old who was found dead in a Timberlea home early Friday morning.

“I don’t picture either of them being capable of such a thing. It’s not the type of thing I ever heard them talk or joke about,” said Appleton.

Sheppard, and Lindsay Kanittha Souvannarath, a 23-year-old from Geneva, Illinois, both face charges of conspiracy to commit murder.

A third person, a 17-year-old male from Cole Harbour, has been released without charges.

Appleton first met the two men about six months ago at a live metal music show at Gus' Pub in Halifax. Appleton says the same people tend to attend metal concerts in Halifax, so people at the shows get to know each other.

"They were fun kids, just dumb kids that were fun to hang out with," said Appleton.

Besides attending shows with them, Appleton would sometimes hang out with them beforehand, drinking beer and listening to music on YouTube.

On Friday, Appleton pondered whether he could go see Sheppard while he was in police custody to ask him "what the hell they were thinking."

Could not 'punch their way out of a wet paper bag'

Appleton says the two men aren’t physically imposing.

"I don't think either of them could punch their way out of a wet paper bag," he said.

Appleton says the two were learning to play musical instruments and he used to joke with them about starting a "kick-ass metal band."

Appleton is still processing the news.

"I hope it's all a horrible misunderstanding and that everybody will be OK in the end, except the one that isn't alive anymore," he said.