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Canada shooting: Gunman kills at least 16 in Nova Scotia | Canada shooting: Gunman kills at least 16 in Nova Scotia |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A gunman disguised as a policeman killed at least 16 people, including a female police officer, in the worst mass shooting in Canada's modern history. | A gunman disguised as a policeman killed at least 16 people, including a female police officer, in the worst mass shooting in Canada's modern history. |
The 12-hour rampage started late on Saturday and ended with a car chase. | The 12-hour rampage started late on Saturday and ended with a car chase. |
Police said the suspect shot people at different locations in Nova Scotia, many of them randomly. He was killed in a confrontation with police. | Police said the suspect shot people at different locations in Nova Scotia, many of them randomly. He was killed in a confrontation with police. |
He was reported to have been driving what looked like a police car. | He was reported to have been driving what looked like a police car. |
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the attack as "a terrible situation". | |
Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil told reporters this was "one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province's history". | |
What do we know about what happened? | What do we know about what happened? |
Police began receiving calls about shots being fired at a home in Portapique about 22:00 local time (01:00 GMT on Sunday), the Globe and Mail reports. | Police began receiving calls about shots being fired at a home in Portapique about 22:00 local time (01:00 GMT on Sunday), the Globe and Mail reports. |
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers arrived to find "several casualties" inside and outside the home, but did not find the suspect. | Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers arrived to find "several casualties" inside and outside the home, but did not find the suspect. |
The alleged attacker, who was later identified by Nova Scotia police tweets as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, owned two large properties in the village, the Globe says. | The alleged attacker, who was later identified by Nova Scotia police tweets as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, owned two large properties in the village, the Globe says. |
At 23:30, RCMP tweeted that officers were responding to a firearms complaint in the area, and advised residents to lock themselves indoors. While officers descended on the scene, a series of fires broke out around the community, and then later at homes about 40km (25 miles) north, the Globe reports. | At 23:30, RCMP tweeted that officers were responding to a firearms complaint in the area, and advised residents to lock themselves indoors. While officers descended on the scene, a series of fires broke out around the community, and then later at homes about 40km (25 miles) north, the Globe reports. |
Neighbours told the newspaper that Mr Wortman set fire to his home and several buildings on the property, and shot people when they ran out of their homes. | Neighbours told the newspaper that Mr Wortman set fire to his home and several buildings on the property, and shot people when they ran out of their homes. |
RCMP continued pursuing Mr Wortman for hours, following a series of crime scenes that police said were "scattered across the province" and which police are still working to piece together. | RCMP continued pursuing Mr Wortman for hours, following a series of crime scenes that police said were "scattered across the province" and which police are still working to piece together. |
During the attack, police said Gabriel Wortman was not employed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but "may be wearing a RCMP uniform". | During the attack, police said Gabriel Wortman was not employed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but "may be wearing a RCMP uniform". |
"There's one difference between his car and our Royal Canadian Mounted Police vehicles: the car # [registration plate]. The suspect's car is 28B11, behind rear passenger window. If you see 28B11, call 911 immediately," they tweeted on Sunday. | "There's one difference between his car and our Royal Canadian Mounted Police vehicles: the car # [registration plate]. The suspect's car is 28B11, behind rear passenger window. If you see 28B11, call 911 immediately," they tweeted on Sunday. |
The gunman later changed cars to drive a "small silver Chevrolet SUV", police added. | The gunman later changed cars to drive a "small silver Chevrolet SUV", police added. |
What do we know about the victims? | What do we know about the victims? |
RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson, who had served in the force for 23 years, was among those killed. | RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson, who had served in the force for 23 years, was among those killed. |
"Heidi answered the call of duty and lost her life while protecting those she served," Nova Scotia RCMP Commanding Officer, Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman said in a Facebook post. | "Heidi answered the call of duty and lost her life while protecting those she served," Nova Scotia RCMP Commanding Officer, Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman said in a Facebook post. |
"Two children have lost their mother and a husband his wife. Parents lost their daughter and countless others lost an incredible friend and colleague," Commissioner Bergerman said. | "Two children have lost their mother and a husband his wife. Parents lost their daughter and countless others lost an incredible friend and colleague," Commissioner Bergerman said. |
Lisa McCully, a teacher at Debert Elementary School, was also killed in the attack, according to a statement from the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. | Lisa McCully, a teacher at Debert Elementary School, was also killed in the attack, according to a statement from the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. |
It said union members - along with colleagues, students, family and friends - were heartbroken, adding that Ms McCully was known "not only as a passionate teacher but as a shining love in their lives". | It said union members - along with colleagues, students, family and friends - were heartbroken, adding that Ms McCully was known "not only as a passionate teacher but as a shining love in their lives". |
Other victims listed by the Globe and Mail included Jamie Blair and Greg Blair; and Heather O'Brien, a nurse from Truro. | Other victims listed by the Globe and Mail included Jamie Blair and Greg Blair; and Heather O'Brien, a nurse from Truro. |
Authorities were still trying to establish the final death toll on Sunday. They warned that there may be more victims. | Authorities were still trying to establish the final death toll on Sunday. They warned that there may be more victims. |
What do we know about the gunman? | What do we know about the gunman? |
Neighbours say Mr Wortman owned a successful denture clinic in Dartmouth, and had a strong interest in RCMP and RCMP memorabilia, the Globe reports. | Neighbours say Mr Wortman owned a successful denture clinic in Dartmouth, and had a strong interest in RCMP and RCMP memorabilia, the Globe reports. |
Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said he was not aware that Mr Wortman had a history of violence, or extremist political views, and that there did not appear to be anything linking the victims to each other. | Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said he was not aware that Mr Wortman had a history of violence, or extremist political views, and that there did not appear to be anything linking the victims to each other. |
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki said she believed the gunman had an initial "motivation" that "turned to randomness", according to CBC News. | RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki said she believed the gunman had an initial "motivation" that "turned to randomness", according to CBC News. |
The police provided few details about how the suspected gunman died. | The police provided few details about how the suspected gunman died. |
Are mass shootings common in Canada? | Are mass shootings common in Canada? |
Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada where gun ownership laws are stricter than in the neighbouring United States. | Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada where gun ownership laws are stricter than in the neighbouring United States. |
Last year, two fugitive teenagers confessed to killing three people, including an Australian-US couple on holiday, in northern British Columbia. | Last year, two fugitive teenagers confessed to killing three people, including an Australian-US couple on holiday, in northern British Columbia. |
In 2017, university student Alexandre Bissonnette shot dead six worshippers at a Quebec City mosque. | In 2017, university student Alexandre Bissonnette shot dead six worshippers at a Quebec City mosque. |
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been targeted in a number of shootings, including in an attack that left three officers dead in Moncton, New Brunswick, in 2014. | The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been targeted in a number of shootings, including in an attack that left three officers dead in Moncton, New Brunswick, in 2014. |
In 1989, a college shooting in Quebec left 14 women dead after the killer sent all the men out of the classroom and opened fire. | In 1989, a college shooting in Quebec left 14 women dead after the killer sent all the men out of the classroom and opened fire. |