The suspicious death that occurred Friday evening in Dartmouth has been ruled a homicide and charges have been laid.
At 7:42 pm June 16, Halifax Regional Police, including the Patrol, K-9, Emergency Response and Quick Response Units, responded to the 0-100 block of Hastings Drive in Dartmouth for an assault in progress.
Upon arrival, officers discovered an injured man outside a residential building. He was transported to the Dartmouth General Hospital by EHS with what appeared to be life-threatening injuries. Officers also located an unresponsive woman inside a building. EHS attended and pronounced the woman deceased. Police don’t believe this to be a random act.
Based on yesterday’s autopsy, the Medical Examiner has ruled the death a homicide and identified the victim as 35-year-old Nadia Gonzales of Dartmouth. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time.
Through the course of the investigation, four men and a woman were taken into custody. On June 17 at approximately 9 p.m., the Major Crime Unit of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division released three men from custody without charge. Charges have been laid against the other two individuals.
Twenty-three-year-old Calvin Maynard Sparks of Dartmouth has been charged with one count each of first degree murder, attempted murder, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and breach of probation.
Nineteen-year-old Samanda Rose Ritch of Halifax has been charged with one count each of first degree murder, attempted murder, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and breach of recognizance.
The investigation, led by the Homicide Unit of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division and including Forensic Identification officers, is ongoing and we remain on scene. At this time, we anticipate being on scene throughout the day.
The accused are scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court tomorrow (Monday) morning.
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Source: Media Release