Halifax police trying to identify potential witness in Christmas Eve homicide

Halifax Regional Police are asking for help identifying a potential witness in the death of a man in downtown Halifax last month.

Ryan Sawyer's death was declared a homicideafter police were called to an assault outside of the Halifax Alehouse bar on Brunswick Streetin the early hours of Dec. 24.

Policeare now looking for a man who is described asBlack, tall with a thin build and in his 20s to 30s. He was wearing a black coat and a black shirt with a gold symbol at the time.

"We have himas a potential witness because hemay have information that can [prove] helpful in moving this investigation forward," Const. John MacLeodsaid in an interview Wednesday.

"Given the seriousness nature of the incident, it's important that ...we do everything we can."

Halifax police said thepotential witness is not a suspect in the death of Sawyer and investigators are not seeking additional suspects at this time.

MacLeodsays officers have tried to locate the potential witness, but are now turning to the public for help.

Officers found Sawyer unresponsive on the sidewalk outside the bar before he was taken to hospital, where hedied of his injuries. Police took a man into custody, but he was later released without charges.

Sawyer's obituary says he was born in Markham, Ont., and grew up in Pickering, Ont., and attended high school in Windsor, N.S.

He laterstudied business management atDalhousie University beforemoving back to Ontario, where he workedwith Nissan Canada in Mississauga, Ont.

A memorial service was held for Sawyer in Halifax earlier this month. A celebration of life is being held in Ajax, Ont., onWednesday.

Police are asking the potential witness or anyone with information on his identity to call police at 902-490-5020.