Nova Scotia

Randall Shepherd, Lindsay Souvannarath won't seek bail, Halifax case put over to March 6

The lawyer for Lindsay Kanittha Souvannarath and Randall Steven Shepherd says during the pair's brief court appearance that the two aren't seeking bail as they face charges linked to a foiled alleged Valentine's Day mass shooting plot at the Halifax Shopping Centre.

Each faces 4 charges in alleged foiled shooting plot on Valentine's Day

Halifax suspects in court

10 years ago
Duration 2:19
Randall Shepherd and Lindsay Souvannarath face four charges in alleged shooting plot

The lawyer for Lindsay Kanittha Souvannarath and Randall Steven Shepherd said during the pair's brief court appearance this morning that the two aren't seeking bail as they face charges linked to a foiled alleged Valentine's Day mass shooting plot at the Halifax Shopping Centre.

Souvannarath, a 23-year-old from Geneva, Ill., and Shepherd, 20, of Halifax each face charges including conspiracy to commit murder. 

The two are also each facing charges of:

  • Conspiracy to commit arson.
  • Conspiracy to use weapons for a dangerous purpose.
  • Unlawfully conveying threats through social media. 

Crown attorney Shauna MacDonald alleged the arson charge was "part of the [pair's] plan," but would not elaborate further.

Also during Tuesday's appearance, their first in court, the case was put over to March 6.

Souvannarath and Shepherd were charged Saturday.

Souvannarath was arrested at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport after arriving in Canada early Friday, at around 2 a.m. Shepherd, who was there to meet her, was also arrested.

Earlier on Friday, police tracked down another suspect, James Gamble, 19, who was found dead at the home of his parents on Tiger Maple Drive in Timberlea, about 20 minutes outside Halifax. His death is under investigation by Nova Scotia's Serious Incident Response Team.

Lindsay Kanittha Souvannarath and Randall Shepherd were allegedly involved in a foiled Valentine's Day mass shooting plot at the Halifax Shopping Centre. (Chicago Sun-Times/Facebook)

Gamble left behind a blog filled with images of death, shootings and references to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado, and references to Adolf Hitler and Nazis.

A 17-year-old boy from Cole Harbour, N.S., was arrested, but has since been released without charges. Police said there is no evidence to link him to the alleged shooting plot, but the investigation is ongoing.

'A group of murderous misfits'

"We have averted a true tragedy here in Halifax," Justice Minister Peter MacKay told reporters after the arrests. "It would have marked our city and province forever."

When asked if the suspects had "Columbine" beliefs, MacKay responded, "I cannot confirm that, but what I can tell you is that this appeared to be group of murderous misfits … prepared to wreak havoc and mayhem on our community."

Brian Brennan, Nova Scotia RCMP commanding officer, has said a Crime Stoppers tip helped foil the alleged plot, but wouldn't provide more information about where the tip came from.​