The man suspected of killing his girlfriend and her father on New Year’s Eve in Halifax, before dying by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was wanted in Toronto for a 2019 nightclub shooting.
Halifax Regional Police confirmed Friday that Matthew Costain, 39, was the same man identified by Toronto police as a suspect in the Aug. 5, 2019 shooting. Four people were injured in the gunfire, according to a news release from the Toronto Police Service at the time. The force confirmed on Friday afternoon that warrant was still active.
Toronto police were unable to provide immediate comment however on whether they had informed Halifax police about the outstanding arrest warrant.
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According to Halifax police, Cora-Lee Smith, 40, and her 73-year-old father, Bradford Downey, were found shot in a vehicle on Gottingen Street on Dec. 31, 2024.
Officers were initially called to the 2400-block of Gottingen Street just after 10:30 p.m. that evening.
“Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle with the deceased female inside, as well as an unresponsive male. That male was later taken to the hospital where he died of his injuries,” said HRP spokesperson Const. Martin Cromwell to media on Thursday.
Police identified them as Cora-Lee Smith, 40, and her father Bradford Downey, 73.
Cromwell said on Thursday officers learned their suspect was nearby at the Halifax Commons, and found him there at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The man, later identified as Costain, was found deceased. Cromwell said it’s believed he died by self-inflicted gunshot.
“Through our investigation, we’re confident that that person is involved in the homicides,” said Cromwell.
Police noted Costain was “known to be in a relationship with Ms. Smith” and called the incidents intimate partner violence.
– with files from The Canadian Press
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