An individual from the Annapolis Valley is charged with attempted murder and multiple weapons-related offenses following a shooting incident involving a woman known to him. The woman sustained severe injuries and was promptly taken to the hospital.
Ryan Alexander Cole, aged 36, appeared briefly in Nova Scotia Provincial Court on Monday, with his case adjourned until August 25. He is currently held in custody.
The incident unfolded on Saturday morning in South Farmington within the Annapolis Valley, prompting a police response to a reported shooting. The suspect fled the scene in a damaged Mazda sedan, heading towards Halifax.
Law enforcement pursued the vehicle and made several efforts to stop it, including deploying a spike belt on the highway. Despite evading the deflation device, the suspect was later tracked from the air and the Mazda eventually crashed into a tree along a hiking trail behind a shopping mall in Bedford, a suburb of Halifax.
Subsequently, the suspect fled on foot, leading to the RCMP issuing an alert. RCMP Cpl. Mandy Edwards emphasized the public safety concern when dealing with a suspect believed to be armed. Following failed attempts to locate the suspect, an emergency alert was issued to all Halifax Regional Municipality residents.
The arrest involved police dog teams from the RCMP and Halifax Regional Police, as well as emergency response units from both agencies. While confirming the acquaintance between Cole and the victim, authorities could not specify the exact nature of their relationship.
Cole has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2008, which includes various charges such as breaching release conditions, disarming a police officer, resisting arrest, and unauthorized distribution of intimate images.