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Third person charged in homicide of Nadia Gonzales
Investigators in the Special Investigation Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division have arrested a third person in relation to the homicide of Nadia Gonzales.
At 7:42 p.m. on June 16, Halifax Regional Police, including Patrol, K-9, Emergency Response and Quick Response officers, responded to Hastings Drive in Dartmouth for an assault in progress. Upon arrival, officers discovered an injured man outside a residential building. He was transported to the Dartmouth General Hospital by EHS with what appeared to be life-threatening injuries. Officers also located 35-year-old Nadia Gonzales, who was unresponsive, inside a residential building. EHS pronounced her deceased at the scene and the Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide.
Through the course of the investigation, four men and a woman were taken into custody. Three of the men were released without charges on June 17, and the other man and woman were charged in relation to the homicide. Twenty-three-year-old Calvin Maynard Sparks of Dartmouth was charged with one count each of first degree murder, attempted murder and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, numerous other weapons-related charges not related to the homicide and three counts of breach of probation. Nineteen-year-old Samanda Rose Ritch of Halifax was charged with one count each of first degree murder, attempted murder and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, numerous other weapons-related charges not related to the homicide and breach of recognizance.
Through the course of the investigation, officers identified a third suspect, who was not one of the people previously taken into custody. Investigators arrested the man without incident at a residence on Hastings Drive in Dartmouth yesterday at 9:10 a.m. The man was transported to Police Headquarters at 1975 Gottingen Street and remanded into custody overnight.
Sixty-year-old Wayne Andrew Bruce of Dartmouth has been charged with one count of first degree murder, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and numerous other weapons-related charges not related to the homicide. He is scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court today.
The investigation is ongoing and police ask anyone with information to call 902-490-5016. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or texting a tip - Tip 202 + your message to 274637.
GO#17-88061