25-year-old man charged with first-degree murder in downtown stabbing

A 25-year-old Halifax man has been charged with first-degree murderfollowing a stabbing downtown on Dec. 30 that left one man dead and another man injured.

Cymon Felix Cormieris alsocharged with assault andpossession of a dangerous weapon, according to a news release from Halifax Regional Police.

Police say they responded to the call at Insight Optometry on Brunswick Streetaround 9:15 a.m. AT on Thursday, where a man had entered the clinic and attacked a staff member. A customer attempted to intervene and was also injured.

The attacker fled on foot, but police found him in the area a short time later and he was taken into custody.

Cormieris expected to appear in court today.

Police do not believe incident was random

The staff memberwas stabbed and taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries. The victimhas been identified as55-year-oldTony Nader.

The other victim, a 66-year-old man, was taken to hospital withnon-life-threatening injuries.

This is the fifth Halifax-area homicide in two months. Police said they do not believethis was a random incident.

Police are asking anyone with information about this incident or video from the Queen Street areabetween Spring Garden Road and Victoria Road from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday, to call police at 902-490-5020.