Amherst Police Department
Two people are in custody in relation to the fatal shooting that occurred on April 13th, 2026 in Amherst Nova Scotia. A third suspect remains at large.
Amherst Police lay criminal charges on the morning of April 16th 2026 and warrants were issued for 3 subjects believed to be responsible for the death of Chris Leggett. Shortly afterwards, 2 suspects were arrested by Codiac RCMP in Moncton NB.
Charges had been laid and warrants were issued for Sean Eugene Patriquin, aged 56, of Moncton NB, Natasha Deborah Austin, aged 42, of Moncton NB and Michael James Ryan, aged 34 of Springhill, NS. All three have been charged with 1st Degree Murder as a result of the incident. Patriquin and Austin have been arrested by Codiac RCMP and are currently in custody.
Police are seeking the assistance of the public in locating Michael Ryan. Police have reason to believe that he is actively evading police.
Ryan is described as having brown hair, blue eyes and is 178cm tall and approximately 86kg in weight.
At approximately 6:51pm on April 13th 2026, Amherst Police received a call concerning a loud bang heard on Prince Arthur Street and that a male was on the ground and appeared to be injured at that location. Police attended and located an adult male who appeared to be seriously wounded from a single gunshot wound to the lower back. Police in attendance attempted life-saving measures and the male was transported to the hospital and shortly thereafter, was pronounced deceased. The male was 41 years old.
The Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, in line with policies regarding these types of incidents, took safety precautions and measures as a result of the incident.
Those responsible fled the scene in a vehicle described as a dark-coloured Subaru SUV after the incident. This vehicle has also been seized by Codiac RCMP. The plate affixed at the time had been reported as stolen earlier this month from the Moncton area.
Prior to the shooting, there was an altercation between the suspects and the victim near the intersection of Prince Arthur Street and Church Street. The victim fled but came back around onto Prince Arthur Street and the suspect vehicle pulled up beside him. The victim ran as an occupant of the vehicle got out and had what appeared to be a long-gun and shot the victim. The suspects then fled in the SUV towards Maple Avenue.
As a result of the incident, APD activated their Combined Municipal Police Major Crime Unit Agreement and have been working with members of the Truro Police Service Criminal Investigation Division, as well as The Cumberland Integrated Street Crime Unit, the RCMP Forensic Identification Unit, Cumberland RCMP, J Division RCMP and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiners Office. The investigation is continuing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim at this tragic time.
If spotted, or if you know the whereabouts of Michael Ryan, do not approach him.
Investigators are asking anyone with information on this incident or the whereabouts of Michael Ryan to contact the Amherst Police Department at 902-667-8600 or by contacting the Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), text TIP202 + your message to 'CRIMES' (274637) or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca. Calls to Crime Stoppers are not taped or traced and if police make an arrest and lay charges based on a tip, callers qualify for a cash reward from $50 -$2000.
APD Media Contact:
Chief Dwayne Pike
902-667-8600
pdf A PDF version of this media release is available for download here(225 KB) .
