Warrant issued for suspect in Saskatoon’s 12th murder of the year

A warrant has been issued for a suspect in Saskatoon’s 12th murder of 2020.

In a release, police say a warrant for second-degree murder has been issued for 30-year-old Justin Troy Ballantyne.

Investigators believe he may be in the Saskatoon area but he’s known to have associations in the Prince Albert area.

Ballantyne is described as 6-foot-1 and 157 pounds. He is believed to be armed and should not be approached.

Brandon Applegate (Facebook)

Ballantyne is wanted in connection with the shooting death of 22-year-old Brandon Applegate early Sunday morning.

Applegate is remembered by friends, family and co-workers as a tireless advocate for youth and children.

At around 7:20 a.m., police received a 911 call about a person injured at a business in the 1000 block of Eighth Street East.

Patrol officers and Medavie Health Services responded to the area where they found an unresponsive man on the road at the intersection of Clarence Avenue South and Eighth Street East.

The man was transported to hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

On Tuesday, an autopsy was performed confirming the cause of death was a gunshot wound.

Investigators believe the victim and the accused knew each other.

Police are asking anyone who may have information about the whereabouts of Ballantyne or this homicide to call them at 306-975-8300 and ask to speak to an investigator in Major Crime or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.