**** Amherst Police Release
A 33-year-old Amherst man has been charged with murder in relation to a fatal shooting that occurred in Amherst on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021.
The charge, under Section 235(1) of the Criminal Code, was laid against Joseph Thomas Hartson, 33, on Tuesday, Nov.9, 2021, following an investigation by the Amherst Police Department’s major crime unit into the shooting death of Jerry Jordan Morrissey, 23, of Amherst.
Officers arrested Hartson, without incident, at the scene, at about 2 p.m., shortly after they arrived at a Bayview Drive home where the shooting occurred.
Morrissey, who was not a resident of the home, was found to be suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics transported him to the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Members of the Amherst Police Department have been in contact with the family of the victim.
“We offered them our sincere condolences,” Police Chief Dwayne Pike said. “This incident is heart-breaking for all of those involved.”
The department’s major crime unit continues to actively investigate the incident. They are receiving assistance from department patrol members and the RCMP H Division’s forensic identification section.
Anyone with information related to this incident is as to contact the Amherst Police Department at 902-667-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
