A man from Port au Port West has been given a seven-year prison sentence for shooting a snowmobiler in the head nearly two years ago on the west coast of Newfoundland. Justice Trina Simms handed down the sentence to Harold Wayne Hynes, 68, via Zoom from a Corner Brook courtroom on Monday for the shooting of Chad Hickey on Feb. 21, 2025.
Hickey’s wife, Alex Hickey, expressed her satisfaction with the maximum sentence given by Justice Simms, acknowledging that no sentence can fully address the hardship her family has endured over the past 20 months. Hynes was charged with attempted murder, careless use of a firearm, and aggravated assault on March 16, 2025.
During the incident at Gravel’s Pond near Hynes’ residence, Hickey, who was not wearing a helmet, was struck in the head by a shotgun blast fired from Hynes’ home. This resulted in a brain injury for Hickey, necessitating surgery to remove bullet fragments. His left side was permanently affected, leading to a prolonged recovery period that involved hospitalization and rehabilitation.
Despite pleading not guilty initially, Hynes later changed his plea to guilty for aggravated assault and careless use of a firearm. Hickey, who was absent from the recent court proceedings due to work commitments, conveyed how the injuries had altered his life significantly, especially in his role as a new father.
Hynes, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and has no family, expressed an apology during the sentencing; however, Alex Hickey deemed it insufficient. Hynes now faces a lifetime ban on firearm use and is prohibited from contacting Hickey or his family. Meanwhile, Chad and Alex recently celebrated their wedding anniversary, with their son now 18 months old.
