A 26-year-old man was shot outside a Halifax-area apartment building Thursday, and CBC News has confirmed the victim is Jimmy Melvin Jr., whose family has been linked to a recent spate of drug-related violence.

Four men have been arrested, but no charges have been laid.

Halifax police said a man was shot at about 6 p.m. AT in a wooded area behind the Ridgeway Towers at 30 Ridge Valley Rd., in the Cowie Hill area.

The victim is being treated for injuries that police would only describe as non-life-threatening.

Police believe the shooting is connected to drug activity.

"This is a dispute within the drug trade, that's what it is," said Const. Jeff Carr of Halifax Regional Police.

"It's a violent industry, it's a violent business. We can't prevent every incident from happening."

Police were doing surveillance in the area at the time of the shooting but were unable to prevent it. They said they will direct a high level of resources at solving this case.

No bystanders were injured.

The Melvin family has been linked to a number of drug-related shootings, firebombings and other violent acts since 2006, police have said in the past.

Although police have not identified Thursday's shooting victim, a source confirmed it was Jimmy Melvin Jr.

Melvin had been facing a long list of charges relating to a March 2007 home invasion in Spryfield, N.S., but the charges were withdrawn after two witnesses recanted their stories.

Melvin, who had been behind bars for two years, was released Nov. 14. He still faces a breaking-and-entering charge related to a different case.

Three days after Melvin's release, a gunman tried to shoot his father, Jimmy Melvin Sr., outside Jessy's Pizza in Spryfield. Melvin Sr., who has served time for drug trafficking and assaulting a peace officer, was able to jump out of the way of the bullets.

A day later, someone shot a man in the wrist as he walked in front of an IWK Health Centre hospital in downtown Halifax. Police said that shooting was connected to the pizza shop shooting.