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Multiple victims after shooting rampage in Nova Scotia, police say Canada shooting: at least 10 dead after rampage in Nova Scotia
(32 minutes later)
One officer was killed and another injured in shooting in Portapique. Accused gunman was named as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman One officer was killed and another injured in shooting in Portapique. Accused gunman Gabriel Wortman has died
A Canadian police officer was killed and another injured after a gunman went on a 12-hour shooting rampage in Nova Scotia leaving “multiple victims” in his wake, police have said. Canadian police have said at least 10 people are dead after a gunman went on a 12-hour shooting rampage across Nova Scotia.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the incident occurred in the small Atlantic coastal town of Portapique, about 130km north (80 miles) of the provincial capital Halifax. Brian Sauvé, the president of the National Police Federation, confirmed the death and the injured officer to the Associated Press. A police officer was among the dead. Officials said the gunman, named as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, shot people in several locations across the province and they were still trying to establish a final death toll.
The accused gunman was named as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman. Police had arrested Wortman earlier on Sunday on suspicion of shooting several people, whose conditions they did not specify. Officials said Wortman was dead, but would not confirm a report that Wortman had been shot and killed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). He was found in a gas station in Enfield, Nova Scotia, northwest of downtown Halifax.
“We believe it to be one person who is responsible for all the killings and that he alone moved across the northern part of the province and committed what appears to be several homicides,” RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said.
Brian Sauvé, President of National Police Federation union, said a police officer was among those killed in a shooting and another was injured. The dead officer has been identified as Heidi Stevenson, a mother of two and a 23-year-old veteran of the force. Police have not provided a motive for the attack.
The shootings appeared to be the deadliest act of violence in Canada since January 2017, when a man shot dead six people at an Islamic cultural center in Quebec City.
The incident reportedly began in the small Atlantic coastal town of Portapique, about 130km north (80 miles) of Halifax, the provincial capital.
“I never imagined when I went to bed last night that I would wake up to the horrific news that an active shooter was on the loose in Nova Scotia,” Stephen McNeil, the Nova Scotia premier, said on Sunday.“I never imagined when I went to bed last night that I would wake up to the horrific news that an active shooter was on the loose in Nova Scotia,” Stephen McNeil, the Nova Scotia premier, said on Sunday.
“This is one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province’s history,” he added. He said it was an additional heavy burden amid efforts to contain the coronavirus, and that police will announce further details later. “This is one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province’s history,” he added. He said it was an additional heavy burden amid efforts to contain the coronavirus.
According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Wortman also died. A spokeswoman for the RCMP declined to comment on the CBC report.
The prime minister, Justin Trudeau, speaking to reporters in Ottawa, deplored what he called “a terrible situation”.The prime minister, Justin Trudeau, speaking to reporters in Ottawa, deplored what he called “a terrible situation”.
Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada, which has tighter gun control laws than the United States.Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada, which has tighter gun control laws than the United States.
Portapique residents said the incident started late on Saturday night when police urged everyone to stay indoors.Portapique residents said the incident started late on Saturday night when police urged everyone to stay indoors.
One local resident said she had come across two burning police vehicles while out driving on Sunday morning. One man said he saw at least three separate fires.One local resident said she had come across two burning police vehicles while out driving on Sunday morning. One man said he saw at least three separate fires.
“There was one officer we could see on scene and then all of a sudden, he went running toward one of the burning vehicles,” Darcy Sack told the CBC.“There was one officer we could see on scene and then all of a sudden, he went running toward one of the burning vehicles,” Darcy Sack told the CBC.
“We heard gunshots,” she said, adding that one police officer looked to have been injured.“We heard gunshots,” she said, adding that one police officer looked to have been injured.
Police initially said Wortman was driving what appeared to be a police car and was wearing a uniform but later reported he was at the wheel of a Chevrolet sports utility vehicle. They said he is not a RCMP employee or officer.Police initially said Wortman was driving what appeared to be a police car and was wearing a uniform but later reported he was at the wheel of a Chevrolet sports utility vehicle. They said he is not a RCMP employee or officer.
The worst shooting incident in Canada in recent years occurred in January 2017, when a man shot dead six people at an Islamic cultural center in Quebec City.
In August 2018, a man in the province of New Brunswick, which borders Nova Scotia, shot dead four people, including two police officers, in an apartment complex. In June 2014, in the same province, a man shot dead three police officers.In August 2018, a man in the province of New Brunswick, which borders Nova Scotia, shot dead four people, including two police officers, in an apartment complex. In June 2014, in the same province, a man shot dead three police officers.
Tom Taggart, a lawmaker who represents the Portapique area in the Municipality of Colchester, said the quiet community has been shaken.Tom Taggart, a lawmaker who represents the Portapique area in the Municipality of Colchester, said the quiet community has been shaken.
“This is just an absolutely wonderful, peaceful quiet community and the idea that this could happen in our community is unbelievable,” Taggart said by phone from his home in Bass River.“This is just an absolutely wonderful, peaceful quiet community and the idea that this could happen in our community is unbelievable,” Taggart said by phone from his home in Bass River.