Halifax Regional Police have identified a recent homicide victim as Troy Edward William Clayton, a man who previously served prison time for killing another Halifax resident with a single punch.
From Perpetrator to Victim
Troy Clayton, 59, was identified as the victim through an autopsy conducted by the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service. Police confirmed his identity in a Thursday news release issued by spokesperson Const. Martin Cromwell.
The investigation remains active, with Halifax police seeking anyone with dashcam footage from Gottingen Street between Charles Street and Uniacke Street from 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, November 26. Authorities have emphasized they do not believe the incident was random.
Violent Past and Previous Conviction
Clayton's criminal history spanned more than three decades and included 76 prior convictions. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in February 2021 for the 2017 killing of Benjamin Lokeny.
According to parole board documents from January 2023, Clayton punched Lokeny once in the face, causing him to fall backward and hit his head on the sidewalk. Clayton then walked away from the scene. Lokeny died from blunt force trauma to the head a month later.
Clayton described himself as a "nasty drunk" during parole hearings and claimed that alcohol consumption caused him to react without thinking. He told the parole board that Lokeny had "kind of" provoked him before the fatal punch.
Recent Release and Ongoing Investigation
Clayton was granted full parole in January 2023 after serving time for the manslaughter conviction. He wasn't arrested for Lokeny's killing until March 2019, nearly two years after the incident occurred.
Police have not disclosed how Clayton was killed in the recent homicide. Investigators are in the early stages of collecting witness statements and have not released information about a possible motive.
When asked whether Clayton's death might be connected to Lokeny's killing, Cromwell responded that police don't currently have information to share regarding possible motives.
Halifax Regional Police have extended condolences to Clayton's loved ones and are asking anyone with information or video footage to contact them at 902-490-5020.
