Police search for third suspect in incident at Halifax Shopping Centre

Halifax Regional Police have charged two men and are searching for a third suspect in an incident Tuesday afternoon at the Halifax Shopping Centre.

Just before 1 p.m. yesterday, police asked the public to avoid the mall and surrounding areas as officers investigated a weapons complaint.

HRP now say two armed robberies had occurred earlier in the day, and a gun was fired during one of them.

The first was around 11 a.m. when two men carrying what was believed to be a firearm when into Ash Jewellery on Quinpool Road. 

They left empty-handed and got into a vehicle parked nearby.

An employee and customer had been in the store at the time, neither were hurt.

Then before 12:20 p.m., two men matching the description of the suspects in the earlier robbery went into the Cash Trader Store at 602 Sackville Drive.

Police say the pair also had what was believed to be a firearm, and during a brief struggle, the gun was fired into the floor.

The store owner was not physically injured and the pair ran off with cash and some jewellery.

By 12:30 p.m., HRP officers spotted a suspect vehicle driving along Highway 102 as it approached Bayers Road.

Police say the driver refused to pull over, and the vehicle continued into the Halifax Shopping Centre area, where three men jumped out and ran into the mall.

They say officers chased the trio inside the shopping centre, and were able to arrest two of them and recover stolen property.

Police secured the mall and searched for the third suspect.

By 3:30 p.m., they determined the third suspect was not in the building and they reopened the area to the public.

Daniel Christian Anthony Johnson, 27, and Colton Alan Grantmyre, 26, are scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court today to face charges of:

• Two counts of robbery
• Two counts of assault with a weapon 
• Two counts of uttering threats
• Two counts of unlawful confinement
• Reckless discharge of a firearm 
• Two counts of careless handling of a firearm 
• Three counts of pointing a firearm
• Two counts of possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
• Two counts of carrying concealed weapon
• Two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Two counts of possession of a firearm knowing it is unauthorized 
• Two counts of unauthorized possession in motor vehicle
• Mischief
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 

In addition, Grantmyre is facing three counts of possession contrary to a firearms prohibition order and Johnson is being charged with one count of theft under $5,000. 

The third suspect is described as Black and in his 20s, around 6 feet tall with a medium build.

He had been wearing a black hooded sweater and grey pants, and had an earring in his left ear.

Anyone with information or video from the area is asked to call 902-490-5020 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.