Police calling Spryfield murder a random act
Posted Nov 21, 2011 05:13:26 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Police are investigating the murder of an elderly Spryfield man as a random attack.
Pedestrians found Glenn Francis Oakley, 70, of Spryfield lying on the Drysdale Road bridge around 10:30 Saturday night. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“At this time the motivation behind the incident isnt’ exactly clear,” Const. Brian Palmeter told News 95.7 Monday. “We do believe, through the course of our investigation that Mr. Oakley was randomly targeted.”
Palmeter says until police can identify the perpetrators involved in Oakley’s death police are advising the public to be cautious.
“We’ve always advise people to travel in groups and stick well-lit, well-travelled areas,” said Palmeter. “But this type of incident is very disconcerting for us and we would ask citizens to make sure they take the appropriate steps to keep themselves safe.”
Halifax Regional Police spokesperson Theresa Rath tells News 95.7, investigators know Oakley left his home around 6:40 p.m. for an evening stroll – but they don’t know what happened after that.
“Police are asking anyone who knew Mr. Oakley and may have seen him on Saturday night out for his walk, or anyone who saw a man matching his description, to please contact police,” she said. “We’d like to understand his last movements.”
Rath says investigators are focused on figuring out where Oakley walked on Saturday evening and whether he was with anyone.
Oakley was last seen wearing a three-quarter length tan trenchcoat, black pants and a red tuque. He was a white man about five feet tall, clean shaven and balding with greyish-black hair.
Rath says he was a regular walker in the Sylvia Avenue, Drysdale Road and Emerald Crescent area and often cut through the school yard of J.L. Ilsley High School.
