Sydney River McDonald's murders
The Sydney River McDonald's murders was a shooting spree and armed robbery that occurred on May 7, 1992 at a McDonald's restaurant in Sydney River, Nova Scotia, Canada.
| Sydney River McDonald's murders | |
|---|---|
 Back of the restaurant on May 7, 1992, shortly after the discovery of the murders | |
| Location | Sydney River, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Coordinates | 46.107623,-60.224056 |
| Date | May 7, 1992 12:50 am ADT (UTC-03:00) |
Attack type | Triple-murder |
| Weapons |
|
| Deaths | 3 |
| Injured | 1 |
| Perpetrators | Freeman Daniel MacNeil Darren Muise Derek Wood |
The shooting and robbery left three people dead, and one person survived with life-altering injuries that left them permanently disabled. The deceased victims were Neil Burroughs Jr., Jimmy Fagen, and Donna Warren. Arlene MacNeil survived her headwounds. The shooters stole just over $2,000 CAD from the restaurant’s safe.
That early morning robbery and shooting was committed by three young men, with one of them, Derek Wood, working for that McDonald’s restaurant. They were arrested about a week later and all were convicted by the end of 1993 in separate trials. Today both Freeman Daniel MacNeil and Darren Muise are out on parole while Wood remains incarcerated. It was one of the highest-profile murder cases in Canada at the time.
Background
Victims
Neil Burroughs Jr., aged 29, was a maintenance worker that served at McDonald’s restaurants in Industrial Cape Breton. He lived in Glace Bay with his wife and son. He was originally from the Cape Breton town of Dominion.[1]
James “Jimmy” Fagan, aged 27, was a janitor from Sydney. He was arriving for his 1:00 a.m. shift when he was shot.[2]
Arleen MacNeil, aged 20, was a worker at the restaurant. She was a business student at the University College of Cape Breton (now known as Cape Breton University). She lived in the Point Aconi area of Industrial Cape Breton and was not related to the murderer with the same last name.[3] She was the only one of the four people shot that survived this attack, but was left with permanent physical and mental disabilities.[1] She died on August 15, 2018, at age 46.[3]
Donna Warren, aged 22, from North Sydney. She was the swing manager that night. She was a law student. She was the only one working that night that knew the combination to the safe where the money was stored.[2]
Robbery and murders
Derek Wood, 18, an employee of the restaurant along with two friends, Freeman Daniel MacNeil, 23, and Darren Muise, 18, broke into the restaurant after closing, planning to rob the establishment. They murdered their victims with a .22 calibre pistol, several knives, and a shovel. One victim survived after being shot in the face, but was left permanently disabled. Forcing an employee to open the restaurant's safe, they made off with $2,017.[4]
Community response
The murders put Sydney into the spotlight as this became a national news story. The restaurant was in the shopping district of Sydney River on Kings Road. It reopened on May 14, 1992 after RCMP officers and psychologists accompanied staff through a walk-through of the restaurant.[5] The building was demolished in 2000 and moved down the road to a more accessible location.[4]
Trial and sentence
MacNeil and Wood were sentenced to life imprisonment with 25 years before parole eligibility. Muise received 20 years before parole eligibility.[4]
Parole dispositions
On March 29, 2011, the National Parole Board announced their decision to grant Muise day parole. A member stated: "Given the significant and real progress you have made over the years, your case management team is of the opinion that the probability that you commit a crime after your release is low." He received full parole on November 22, 2012.[6]
On December 29, 2022, McNeil was granted day parole. The National Parole Board had rejected an application for parole by Wood earlier that year, claiming he was "too high a risk to reoffend".[7]
References
- Sullivan, Nicole (May 6, 2022) [May 7, 2022]. "Thirty years of pain: McDonald's murders 'shattered' Cape Breton community" (HTML). Cape Breton Post. Sydney, N.S. pp. A1, A10–A11. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- Cox, Kevin (October 9, 1993). "Death was on the menu" (PDF). The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. D3. ProQuest 1146306714. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via ProQuest.
- Saltwater Staff (August 17, 2018). "Lone survivor of Sydney River McDonald's murders has died". SaltWire Network. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- Macintyre, Mary Ellen (May 7, 2012). "Twenty years of heartache". The Chronicle Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on December 12, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
- Jessome, Phonse (June 28, 2016). Murder at McDonald's: The killers next door (Kindle ed.). New York: MysteriousPress.com/Open Road. indica 2225–2240. ASIN B01GR10MTY.
- CBC Staff (November 29, 2012). "N.S. McDonald's killer granted full parole". CBC News. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- Ayers, Tom (December 29, 2022). "Day parole granted to man convicted in Sydney River McDonald's murders". CBC News. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.