**** RCMP Media Release
UPDATE: Three men convicted in relation to Kyle Van Drunen homicide
All three men who were charged in the Kyle Van Drunen homicide investigation have been convicted.
On May 24, 2021, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Yarmouth Town RCMP were called to a home on King St. for a man who was suffering from a gunshot wound. Police located 41-year-old Kyle Van Drunen outside the home. EHS attended, but Kyle succumbed to his injuries. His death was later determined to have been the result of a homicide.
Following an extensive months-long investigation lead by the Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit, with assistance from RCMP Forensic Identification Services, Yarmouth Town RCMP and the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s Office, James Spurrell and Herbert Spurrell were charged for their involvement in Kyle’s death and, Gordon Hein was charged for pepper spraying Kyle after he had been shot, but before he succumbed to his injuries.
On March 30, 2023, Herbert Spurrell plead guilty to Accessory After the Fact and was sentenced to 2 years custody at a provincial facility.
On June 8, Gordon Hein plead guilty to Assault with a Weapon and, as a result of being convicted for a series of crimes committed in 2020 and 2021, Hein was sentenced to 6 years custody at a federal facility.
On June 23, James Spurrell plead guilty to Manslaughter with a Firearm and was sentenced to 5 years custody at a federal facility.
The Nova Scotia RCMP, and our partners involved in this investigation, would like to thank Kyle’s family and friends for their tremendous support of the investigation and the community members who came forward to provide crucial information and evidence. Our thoughts remain with Kyle’s family and friends.
