Fake policeman shoots woman in Halifax

A woman was shot when a man allegedly posing as a police officer fired a gun into an apartment in Halifax early Tuesday.

Halifax Regional Police said the drama began when two men showed up at 56 Evans Ave. at about 1:30 a.m.

They say the men knocked on the door of apartment six  and identified themselves as police officers. A woman inside opened the door, but when she saw a man with a red bandana carrying a gun, she tried to slam it shut.

"She noticed a handgun and when she tried to close the door a shot was fired through, striking her," said Const. Brian Palmeter.

"They were able to get the door closed. The suspects did flee and the woman was taken to hospital with what are described as non-life-threatening injuries."

A 25-year-old woman was wounded, said Palmeter. Although police have not released her identify, friends told CBC News the victim is Elle Noir, a transgender stage performer. She is originally from Glace Bay and grew up as a man named Chris Cochrane.

No one else was hurt.

Neighbours told CBC News they heard four or five shots.

"I heard a commotion and then it sounded like some shots were fired and someone ran out the back of the building and out the front," said Shawn Kenney.

Charlene Harnish, who lives in the building with her eight-year-old daughter, said she woke up last night to the sound of police officers in her building.

"The building is not a very safe place to be living and I am getting ready to move," Harnish said Tuesday.

"It's supposed to be a secure building, drugs throughout the whole building, you can smell them all day and all night long."

Palmeter said people should be careful if someone comes to the door claiming to be a police officer.

"If people are going to engage in criminal activity, they often don't have any boundaries as to what they will or won't do. So if you're not sure, you can certainly ask for some identification," he said.

"If they're not in a uniform, they should be carrying a badge and can identify themselves appropriately in that regard."

The suspects are described as white men wearing baggy dark clothing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 490-5016 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-TIPS (8477).