A member of the well-known Marriott family, which police have linked to a crime war against another family, was shot to death Friday.
Terry Marriott Jr., 34, was killed at 20 Whitehead Road in Harrietsfield. Police were called to the address at 5:15 p.m. and found Mariott already dead.
Five people who were in and around the house were questioned and released without charges.
It was Halifax’s third murder of the year.
Police say they do not yet know if the death is linked to what they say is a long-standing feud with the rival Melvin family.
But they did confirm the victim’s identity and the death is being treated as a homicide.
A new blaze of violence was set off in November when Jimmy Melvin Jr. was released from prison after witnesses at his trial recanted on their testimony.
First, Melvin’s father, Jimmy Melvin Sr., was shot at outside Jessy’s Pizza in Spryfield.
Then Jason Hallett, who police say is a Melvin associate, was shot at outside the IWK hospital; Aaron Gregory Marriott, 18, was charged with the crime.
In December, Melvin Jr. was shot twice in the upper torso outside a Ridgevalley Road apartment.
The shootings prompted Halifax Regional Police Chief Frank Beazley to say the force would take “unprecedented measures” to clamp down on gang violence.
In mid-January, 15 people believed to be connected to an ongoing drug war were charged as the result of a year-long police operation.
Many of the charges focused on the shootings involving Hallett and Melvin Jr.
Since then, there had been no public incidents involving either family until Friday’s shooting.
Members of the Major Crime Unit and Forensic Investigation Section were on the scene throughout the weekend investigating the area and canvassing neighbours.
Anyone with information related to the death is asked to call police at 490-5020 or anonymously with CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
