Man shot by Halifax police charged with robbery, assault

A man who allegedly robbed a liquor store was shot by police in Halifax.

A man who was shot by police after he allegedly robbed two NSLC stores in Halifax over the weekend is facing more a dozen charges related to the incidents.

Police have identified the man as 37-year-old Brent Alexander Julien. He was due to appear in court Monday to face the following charges:

• two counts of robbery
• two counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon
• three counts of possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace
• five counts of breaching a release order
• resisting a peace officer
• failing to attend court

The charges come after Halifax Regional Police responded to a report of a robbery in progress at the NSLC on Grafton Street around 4:10 p.m. Saturday. Staff told police the suspect sprayed a sensory irritant as he fled the store.

Police responded to another robbery at the NSLC on Quinpool Road around 4:50 p.m. Staff again reported that the suspect had sprayed a sensory irritant as he left the store.

Officers found the man near Superstore on Quinpool Road.

“As officers attempted to arrest the suspect he threatened police with a large knife,” said Halifax Regional Police in a news release on Saturday. “Officers gave verbal commands to drop the knife. An officer deployed a taser, but it was ineffective. A second officer then drew his service weapon and fired, striking the suspect.”

At the time, police said the man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), which is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia, has confirmed it is investigating the shooting.

SiRT is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has video footage to contact the team directly by emailing [e-mail] or calling 1-902-943-2337.

Business commission says shooting disturbing, but not surprising

“I was sad. I was shocked but not too surprised,” said Karla Nicholson, who has been the executive director with the Quinpool Road Mainstreet District Association for nearly two-decades.

Nicholson says business owners have seen a noticeable shift in recent years around open drug-use and shoplifting but says this isn’t just a Quinpool Road issue either.

“Since COVID, there’s been a real change,” said Nicholson. “What we’re seeing is rampant drug use, and people aren’t trying to hide it. There’s a lot more desperation.”

Nicholson says community safety issues are concerns she’s shares with her downtown business counterparts around the city and the province.

“This isn’t just a Quinpool Road problem. It’s city-wide, it’s province-wide and happening in downtowns and business areas across the country.”

Nicholson says businesses are working with police and the city on safety measures, they formed community safety committee in July to better deal with these issues but adds the situation highlights the need for more support for people struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

Nicholson said she’ll be presenting to city council during the budget committee process and making an appeal to fund the police adequately so officers can spend more time in the community on patrol.

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