3 men charged with murder in death of Tylor McInnis, accused linked to gang

HALIFAX – Three men are facing a first degree murder charge in connection with the homicide of Tylor Donovan McInnis in North Preston last month, while another man and male youth are also facing charges.

Shawntez Neco Downey, 24, Daniel Romeo Downey, 18, both from North Preston, and Nicco Alexander Smith, 25, from Cole Harbour, all appeared briefly in Dartmouth Provincial Court Wednesday to be formally charged and all three were remanded to custody until November.

Shawntez, also known as ‘Niko,’ is also charged with attempted murder, while both Downey’s face an additional charge of kidnapping, robbery, extortion and unlawful confinement.

Smith also faces charges of robbery, extortion and unlawful confinement.

Judson Lemar Falls, 34, also of North Preston and a 17-year-old Eastern Passage male youth are charged with being an accessory after the fact in connection to the murder, while Falls also faces a charge of unlawful confinement.

Smith is also scheduled to return to court in November, while the youth was scheduled to appear in youth court Wednesday.

Three of the men were arrested at what News 95.7 has confirmed is Smith’s mother’s home on Silistria Drive in Cole Harbour around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, while police said the other man was arrested at a home on Willis Lane in North Preston.

The youth was arrested at a school in Cole Harbour, according to police.

McInnis was found dead in the trunk of a black Honda Civic at the St. Thomas Baptist Church on Upper Governor Street in North Preston on Aug. 23 by officers responding to a report of a stolen car.

Police have not disclosed how he was killed and none of the allegations have been proven in court.

During a briefing at police headquarters on Wednesday, the officer in charge of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division, Insp. Trudy Bangloy, said some of the accused are known to the victim and the murder was not considered random.

She remained tight-lipped on any connections between the suspects and the victim or what led to the arrests, and could not release many specifics surrounding the case citing the ongoing investigation.

She urged anyone who may have potential information in the case to come forward to police.

“We’re asking people to please reach out to us if they have any further information,” Bangloy said.

“Everything will be investigated thoroughly.”

Accused linked to North Preston gang

News 95.7 has confirmed Shawntez and Daniel Downey are brothers living at the same North Preston address and both along with Smith are linked to a North Preston gang who call themselves ‘HBC’ or ‘Head Bustin’ Crew.’

Shawntez has been one of the most prominent photo sharers on his Instagram account, but a number of others have also shared posts to Instagram and Facebook sporting gear emblazoned with the gang’s logo.

 

Both Daniel Downey and Smith have also both appeared in social media posts with HBC attire, while the posts on Instagram and Facebook repeatedly refer to the group as a gang.

Downey 4

 

Both the Downey’s and others with HBC splashed over their accounts have posted a number of pictures of Naricho Clayton since his death, with most including the hashtag #RIPSky.

Clayton was shot and killed on Gottingen Street in April and his murder remains unsolved.

News 95.7 has confirmed the Downey brother’s were friends with Clayton before his death.

RCMP confirmed the gang would make up part of the investigation into the murder of McInnis and the RCMP Federal and Serious Organized Crime Section is also part of the investigation, along with many other units.

Police have said investigators are looking into any potential links between the murders of Clayton and McInnis, as well as the murders of Tyler Richards and Daverico Downey, but no firm links have been established.

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