Halifax police say New Year's Eve homicide victims were father, daughter
Cora-Lee Smith, 40, and Bradford Downey, 73, died after being shot
Halifax Regional Police say a father and daughter were fatally shot on New Year's Eve hours before the woman's boyfriend was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the latest in a string of intimate partner violence deaths in Nova Scotia.
Police were called to reports of an injured person near Gottingen and Charles streets around 10:35 p.m. Tuesday. Officers found a car that contained a woman who had died of gunshot wounds and another man who had gunshot wounds and was unresponsive.
He was taken to hospital, where he died.
The Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service has determined the cause of death for both victims is homicide.
The victims have been identified as Cora-Lee Smith, 40, and her father, 73-year-old Bradford Downey.
On Wednesday around 1:30 a.m., officers received information that a man connected to the victims was believed to be in the area of the Halifax Common, near the skating oval. Upon arrival, they found the man had died by gunshot wound. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
"It was what we believe to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Const. Martin Cromwell said during an interview with reporters Thursday outside Halifax Regional Police headquarters.
The man has been identified as 39-year-old Matthew Costain. His death is still under investigation by police in conjunction with the medical examiner service.
Police said Costain was known to be in a relationship with Smith. The homicides are believed to be incidents of intimate partner violence and police are not looking for any other suspects.
The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is asked to notify Halifax police.
Cromwell would not say if Costain was known to police or if he had a criminal record. He also would not say if the victims had previously complained about or sought help for intimate partner violence.
Community in shock
Rev. Jivaro Smith, the pastor of Saint Thomas Baptist Church in North Preston, told The Canadian Press he knew the homicide victims and their families.
The pastor described Cora-Lee Smith as "a fun-loving person, with a love of life and respect for her family."
Her father "was an amazing guy who wouldn't harm a flea. He's one of the nicest men you could ever come to know and he had a love for people," the pastor said, adding Downey had worked for a paving firm before retiring.
"He would take the shirt off his back for his family members and his friends and people he came into contact with."
He said the close-knit community is in a state of shock over the deaths. "There's a sense of devastation, shock, there's a grief for two innocent and nice people who didn't deserve this fate."
"It's affecting families across the community. We share in each other's joys and pains, and as a community we grieve and hurt together."
4 N.S. women killed by partner since October
It's the fourth instance of women being killed by their partners in as many months in Nova Scotia, where politicians have declared intimate partner violence an epidemic.
A bill was unanimously adopted in Province House last September that will legislate recommendations to all levels of government from the commission of inquiry that investigated the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting.
The commission heard that the gunman behind Canada's worst mass shooting had a history of domestic violence and had seriously assaulted his spouse moments before he began a 13-hour rampage that left 22 people dead.
The Nova Scotia NDP, who introduced the bill, have said the province has the highest rates of intimate partner violence of any province in Canada, with over 30 per cent of women and 22.5 per cent of men who have been in a relationship reporting being physically or sexually assaulted by their partner.
Asked if there is more Halifax Regional Police could be doing to prevent domestic violence, Cromwell said: "We're always working to do better."
He pointed to police services already in place, such as a victim services unit that is made up of civilian employees and volunteers who work with victims and police officers.
For anyone affected by family or intimate partner violence, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.
If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:
- A list of transition houses across Nova Scotia.
- Family violence resources helpline 1-855-225-0220.
- The Transition Housing Association of Nova Scotia website.
- Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.
- Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.
- This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from The Canadian Press