Murder victim identified, two suspects released from custody

CITYnews halifax / By The Canadian Press and Dan Ahlstrand

Halifax Regional Police have now identified the victim of Monday’s murder at the Halifax Shopping Centre and say two suspects taken into custody after the incident have been released.

Monday evening, just after 5:00 p.m., officers were called to a parking lot at the mall in the 7000 block of Mumford Rd, where a youth was found suffering from serious injuries. He was rushed from the scene to hospital, where he later died.

Police have now identified the victim as 16-year-old Ahmad Maher Al Marrach.

A short time after the incident, police arrested two other youths aboard a Halifax Transit bus in the North Street area and took them into custody. In an update to the media Tuesday afternoon, police said those two youths were released without charge.

Investigators believe this was not a random incident and say their investigation remains ongoing. They will provide more information when it becomes available.

Police say they were aware that video and information from Monday’s incident has been posted to social media and caution that this may compromise the integrity of their investigation.

Anyone with information or video from the incident is asked to contact Regional Police.