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| Nova Scotia Shooting Kills at Least 16, Police Say | Nova Scotia Shooting Kills at Least 16, Police Say |
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| MONTREAL — A gunman killed at least 16 people in a shooting rampage in a rural community in Nova Scotia, Canada’s national broadcaster said late Sunday, in what was among the country’s worst mass killings in recent memory. | MONTREAL — A gunman killed at least 16 people in a shooting rampage in a rural community in Nova Scotia, Canada’s national broadcaster said late Sunday, in what was among the country’s worst mass killings in recent memory. |
| The police said the killing spree, which began in the town of Portapique on Saturday night, ended about 12 hours later at a gas station about 22 miles away in Enfield, north of Halifax, where the gunman died. The police would not elaborate on how he died, though witnesses told local news outlets that they heard gunfire leading up to his death. | The police said the killing spree, which began in the town of Portapique on Saturday night, ended about 12 hours later at a gas station about 22 miles away in Enfield, north of Halifax, where the gunman died. The police would not elaborate on how he died, though witnesses told local news outlets that they heard gunfire leading up to his death. |
| [Update: When Hugs Can Kill: Mourning a Mass Shooting in a Pandemic.] | |
| A police officer was among those killed, officials said. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national broadcaster, citing commissioner Brenda Lucki of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the 16 figure did not include the gunman. | A police officer was among those killed, officials said. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national broadcaster, citing commissioner Brenda Lucki of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the 16 figure did not include the gunman. |
| He was previously identified by the authorities as Gabriel Wortman, 51. | He was previously identified by the authorities as Gabriel Wortman, 51. |
| A motive for the mass shooting was not immediately clear. The police said that it did not begin as a random act but that the killings became random as the spree progressed. | A motive for the mass shooting was not immediately clear. The police said that it did not begin as a random act but that the killings became random as the spree progressed. |
| The commissioner said the police did not consider the killings to be an act of terrorism. | The commissioner said the police did not consider the killings to be an act of terrorism. |
| Officials said Mr. Wortman, a denturist from Nova Scotia, had a relationship to some of the victims and was not known to the police. They said one line of investigation would be whether the coronavirus pandemic had anything to do with the killing spree. | Officials said Mr. Wortman, a denturist from Nova Scotia, had a relationship to some of the victims and was not known to the police. They said one line of investigation would be whether the coronavirus pandemic had anything to do with the killing spree. |
| Chief Superintendent Chris Leather, the officer responsible for criminal investigations for the Nova Scotia Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the episode began on Saturday night when the police were called to a home, where they discovered dead bodies inside and outside the residence. | Chief Superintendent Chris Leather, the officer responsible for criminal investigations for the Nova Scotia Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the episode began on Saturday night when the police were called to a home, where they discovered dead bodies inside and outside the residence. |
| He said a suspect was nowhere to be found. Over the next 12 hours, the police pursued Mr. Wortman across the province. | He said a suspect was nowhere to be found. Over the next 12 hours, the police pursued Mr. Wortman across the province. |
| Commissioner Lucki said the crime scene stretched over a 50 kilometer, or 31-mile, area. | Commissioner Lucki said the crime scene stretched over a 50 kilometer, or 31-mile, area. |
| Chief Leather said Mr. Wortman appeared to be dressed as a police officer and was driving a vehicle made to resemble an R.C.M.P. car. The authorities said that Mr. Wortman then switched vehicles and was seen driving a silver Chevrolet Tracker in the Milford area. The authorities emphasized that he was not an R.C.M.P. employee. | Chief Leather said Mr. Wortman appeared to be dressed as a police officer and was driving a vehicle made to resemble an R.C.M.P. car. The authorities said that Mr. Wortman then switched vehicles and was seen driving a silver Chevrolet Tracker in the Milford area. The authorities emphasized that he was not an R.C.M.P. employee. |
| The chief said the bodies of victims were discovered in multiple locations and that several structures were set on fire. | The chief said the bodies of victims were discovered in multiple locations and that several structures were set on fire. |
| Lee Bergerman, the assistant commissioner, appearing visibly shaken at a news conference on Sunday, said the killing spree would haunt Nova Scotia. | Lee Bergerman, the assistant commissioner, appearing visibly shaken at a news conference on Sunday, said the killing spree would haunt Nova Scotia. |
| “Today is a devastating day for Nova Scotia and will remain etched in the minds of many for years to come,” she said. | “Today is a devastating day for Nova Scotia and will remain etched in the minds of many for years to come,” she said. |
| During the manhunt, the authorities warned residents that Mr. Wortman was armed and dangerous, and told them to stay inside. | During the manhunt, the authorities warned residents that Mr. Wortman was armed and dangerous, and told them to stay inside. |
| Frightened residents locked their doors and many hid in their basements — and stayed there overnight — as news of the shooting spread through the close-knit community. | Frightened residents locked their doors and many hid in their basements — and stayed there overnight — as news of the shooting spread through the close-knit community. |
| Among the victims was Heidi Stevenson, a veteran R.C.M.P. officer and mother of two with 23 years experience on the force. Another police officer was injured. | Among the victims was Heidi Stevenson, a veteran R.C.M.P. officer and mother of two with 23 years experience on the force. Another police officer was injured. |
| Stephen McNeil, the premier of Nova Scotia, said it was “one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province’s history” at a time when the province was already being buffeted by the coronavirus. | Stephen McNeil, the premier of Nova Scotia, said it was “one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province’s history” at a time when the province was already being buffeted by the coronavirus. |
| “To the families of the victims and to those still feeling afraid, my heart goes out to you,” he said. “Know that all Nova Scotians are with you.” | “To the families of the victims and to those still feeling afraid, my heart goes out to you,” he said. “Know that all Nova Scotians are with you.” |
| Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada thanked the police for their work. “Our hearts go out to the people who have lost loved ones,” he said. | Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada thanked the police for their work. “Our hearts go out to the people who have lost loved ones,” he said. |
| The authorities said the rampage was one of the worst in the province’s history. | The authorities said the rampage was one of the worst in the province’s history. |
| In July 2018, a man wielding a gun in Toronto walked down a busy street and randomly shot two people and injured 13, before killing himself. | In July 2018, a man wielding a gun in Toronto walked down a busy street and randomly shot two people and injured 13, before killing himself. |
| One year earlier, in late January, Canada was deeply shaken when a political science student entered a mosque in Quebec City during prayers, killing six people and wounding many more. | One year earlier, in late January, Canada was deeply shaken when a political science student entered a mosque in Quebec City during prayers, killing six people and wounding many more. |
| One of the worst mass shootings in recent Canadian history occurred on Dec. 6, 1989: Fourteen women were killed in a violent anti-feminist attack at the École Polytechnique engineering school in Montreal. Fourteen others were injured, and the gunman killed himself. | One of the worst mass shootings in recent Canadian history occurred on Dec. 6, 1989: Fourteen women were killed in a violent anti-feminist attack at the École Polytechnique engineering school in Montreal. Fourteen others were injured, and the gunman killed himself. |
| In the most recent violence, the authorities said they responded to reports of a shooting about 10:30 p.m. on Saturday in the area of Portapique Beach Road, Bay Shore Road and Five Houses Road in Portapique, a small rural community about 35 miles from Truro, Nova Scotia. | In the most recent violence, the authorities said they responded to reports of a shooting about 10:30 p.m. on Saturday in the area of Portapique Beach Road, Bay Shore Road and Five Houses Road in Portapique, a small rural community about 35 miles from Truro, Nova Scotia. |
| Canadians and residents of Nova Scotia, a province on the Atlantic coast known for its fishing industry, and Halifax, a port city, were shocked by the violence in a small, sleepy, rural area. | Canadians and residents of Nova Scotia, a province on the Atlantic coast known for its fishing industry, and Halifax, a port city, were shocked by the violence in a small, sleepy, rural area. |
| Tom Taggart, a council member in Colchester, which includes Portapique, lives two miles from the rural community. | Tom Taggart, a council member in Colchester, which includes Portapique, lives two miles from the rural community. |
| “It’s really cottage country,” he said on Sunday, adding that the community was home to about 50 to 60 residents and as many as 200 during the summer. | “It’s really cottage country,” he said on Sunday, adding that the community was home to about 50 to 60 residents and as many as 200 during the summer. |
| Like other residents, he said he had heard the updates from the police on Sunday about a gunman on the loose. | Like other residents, he said he had heard the updates from the police on Sunday about a gunman on the loose. |
| “It just escalated from there,” he said. “People live here because it is safe and secure, we think. This stuff is not supposed to happen here.” | “It just escalated from there,” he said. “People live here because it is safe and secure, we think. This stuff is not supposed to happen here.” |
| He added: “These are real people that just went to bed last night thinking that everything is another day and now things are just — I can’t imagine. It’s tragic.” | He added: “These are real people that just went to bed last night thinking that everything is another day and now things are just — I can’t imagine. It’s tragic.” |