RCMP charged 49-year-old Ernie ‘Junior’ Ross Duggan, also from Bayhead, with first-degree murder and attempted murder Tuesday.
Shortly before midnight on Sept. 17, Colchester District RCMP responded to a 911 call from a residence on Clarkes Road in Bayhead, about 10 km north of Tatamagouche.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a deceased female. A male suspect was located by members shortly after. The man drove off in a pickup truck pursued by RCMP.
Police say Duggan was located near Lockerbie Memorial Cemetery on Highway 6 in Tatamagouche.
Police opened fire and Duggan was wounded following a verbal exchange between himself and police, during which he remained in his vehicle. He was taken to hospital for treatment where he remains in custody.
The RCMP turned over the investigation to Nova Scotia’s Serious Incident Response Team.
Due to Duggan’s medical condition his court appearance has not yet been scheduled.
The deceased woman was remembered as a well-regarded businesswoman as well as a mother and community volunteer.
Two international students with Chignecto-Central Regional School Board, who were at home with the deceased woman, survived unharmed.
“They were transported to a safe location, where CCRSB International Student Program personnel met them,” CCRSB spokesperson Darcy MacRae said in an email Tuesday. “The students’ families were notified and put in contact with the students.”
In line with CCRSB protocol for any serious incident, counselling was offered to both students.
The board offered to fly the students home if they so wished and also offered to fly their parents to Canada for additional support.
The board is not revealing their countries of origin or any other details to protect their privacy.
“At this point the students would like some privacy and time to themselves,” said MacRae.
