Halifax RCMP charge man after false shooting report and gun seizure

Community Safety Alert for Halifax Region, Nova Scotia

The RCMP/Halifax Regional Police (HRP) Integrated Criminal Investigation Division has charged a 31-year-old man with multiple firearms, drug, and public mischief offences after investigators concluded he falsely reported being shot in Cole Harbour. The case began on November 13, when police and paramedics responded to a report of an injured man in a commercial parking lot on the 0–100 block of Forest Hill Parkway.

Following that call, officers and specialized investigators carried out search warrants at two separate residences in Cole Harbour and Lower Sackville, seizing several firearms, ammunition, cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and cash. The accused, Kyler David Benight, now faces an extensive list of serious Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act charges and remains in custody pending a scheduled court appearance.

Official Incident Details

On November 13, at approximately 3:45 a.m., officers from the RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment and Emergency Health Services (EHS) responded to a report of an injured 31-year-old man in the parking lot of a business on the 0–100 block of Forest Hill Pkwy., Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. The man told officers he had been shot. Police provided first aid until EHS transported him to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

As part of the investigation, a search warrant was later executed at the man’s residence on Hugh Allen Dr. in Cole Harbour. During that search, officers seized:

• A semi-automatic handgun
• Ammunition
• Cocaine
• Drug paraphernalia
• A quantity of cash

On April 3, at approximately 7:30 a.m., the RCMP/HRP Integrated Criminal Investigation Division executed a second search warrant at a home in the 100 block of Walker Ave., Lower Sackville, in connection with the same investigation. The same 31-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were arrested at that address. Police seized a semi-automatic rifle and additional ammunition from the property.

The 28-year-old woman was released from custody on conditions and is scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court at a later date.

Charges Laid

Kyler David Benight, 31, has been charged with the following offences:

• Careless Use of Firearm (three counts)
• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose (three counts)
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm (three counts)
• Possession of Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized (three counts)
• Possession of a Weapon Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized (two counts)
• Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition (three counts)
• Possession of a Weapon Obtained by Commission of an Offence (three counts)
• Public Mischief
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cocaine)

Benight remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court on April 9. The investigation is documented under file numbers 25-164433 and 26-51548.

CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, this incident underscores how false emergency reports can divert critical resources away from genuine crises while concealing serious underlying risks such as illegal firearms and drug trafficking. Firearms combined with the drug trade heighten the potential for sudden violence and place surrounding homes, businesses, and bystanders at greater risk. Our national safety data, including regional profiles like the CrimeCanada.ca Safety Alerts hub and community crime statistics for municipalities such as Plummer Additional, Ontario crime and safety data, shows that proactive reporting of suspicious weapons activity and drug dealing is a key factor in preventing escalation.

Residents in Nova Scotia, particularly in urban and suburban areas like Cole Harbour and Lower Sackville, can support safer neighbourhoods by promptly reporting suspected illegal firearms, drug trafficking, or staged incidents to local police or Crime Stoppers. Avoid confronting anyone believed to be armed, document details from a safe distance, and provide as much information as possible to authorities. Responsible use of 911 and non-emergency lines helps ensure police, fire, and medical teams are available for genuine emergencies while still allowing investigators to disrupt dangerous criminal activity before it harms the wider community.

Official Source & Community Safety

This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the nova-scotia community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.

Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.