Shooting victim was trying to turn his life around, parole documents say

Tyler Keizer had been trying to turn his life around after a history of violence and criminal activity, when he was shot dead Monday night.

According to parole documents, the 22-year-old man had been in prison since his teenage years, had dropped out of school after Grade 10 and had links to organized crime.

Convictions related to robbery, drugs

Keizer landed in prison after he was convicted of robbery and possession of prohibited substances.

He had tried to rob someone on the street and, on another occasion, documents show Keizer was at a house party and claimed the host had taken his cell phone. He punched the person in the face repeatedly. Police were called and found Keizer in possession of cocaine, a knife, and marijuana. 

Keizer was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, but within six months of being incarcerated was involved in a stabbing at the Springhill Institution that left another offender with punctures to his lung.

That attack, according to parole board documents, was suspected to have been a result of the victim owing money to an organized crime group. Keizer was eventually convicted of assault as a result of the attack and had a year added to his sentence.

Keizer was then sent to the Atlantic Institution, a maximum security prison in Renous, N.B.

A psychological assessment concluded he was impulsive and lacked remorse for his crimes. He was also diagnosed with ADHD and a learning disability, which affected his ability to express emotion.

Keizer was denied parole in November 2015 after a number of reported incidents while in prison, including the discovery of shanks — improvised prison knife — in his cell. He appealed that decision and lost. The parole board concluded Keizer was not engaged in his rehabilitation and had shown a "comfort with violence." 

He was again denied parole on Jan. 26, 2016. In its report, the parole board said if released, he was likely to hurt or kill someone before serving his complete sentence. The board said Keizer had "difficulty controlling violent impulses while in the community."

As a result, the board granted him a one chance statutory release with strict conditions. Less than three months later, he was killed in Halifax's 12th homicide of the year.