Man charged with 2nd-degree murder in Dartmouth homicide
The man accused of Halifax's latest murder has a long and violent criminal history including ties to a notorious gang.
Halifax Regional Police have charged 33-year-old Nicholas Roland Rhyno of St. Margarets Bay, N.S., with second-degree murder in the death of 25-year-old Zachery Jordell Charles Grosse last week in Dartmouth, N.S.
Police arrested Rhyno on Wednesday morning in Halifax, according to a news release from Halifax Regional Police.
Police were called to 24 Primrose St. around 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 22. Grosse was found outside the building. He was transported to hospital where he died early the next morning.
Police said they do not believe Grosse's killing was a random act and they are not looking for other suspects. The news release said police are also asking the public not to speculate on what they describe as "misinformation" circulating on social media.
Drug and weapons offences
Rhyno was a member of the Marriott crime family that in one point engaged in a violent gang war for control of the city's drug trade.
According to documents from the Parole Board of Canada, Rhyno's criminal history dates back to 2006 and includes multiple convictions for drug trafficking, various weapons offences and failures to comply with conditions.
The board noted in 2009 that Rhyno was accused of attempting to kill three men, but charges were withdrawn when the alleged victims refused to co-operate with the investigation.
"File information indicates that you have a low tolerance for frustration, poor anger management skills and are quick to act aggressively; you use weapons for intimidation and manipulation," the board wrote.
The board noted Rhyno's violent behaviour continued while he was behind bars and included assaults on other inmates, aggressive behaviour toward staff and possession of drugs, weapons and contraband.
In June 2012, police issued a warning after Rhyno failed to return to a halfway house where he'd been on parole for drug and weapons offences.
At the time, police described Rhyno as armed and dangerous. He eventually turned himself in to police.
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