Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 20 Apr 2020
AT LEAST 16 people have been killed after a 51-year-old man went on a shooting rampage across the northern part of Nova Scotia, Canadian police have said.
It is the deadliest such attack in Canadian history.
The man was identified as Gabriel Wortman and authorities said he disguised himself as a police officer in uniform at one point and mocked up a car to make it seem like a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) vehicle.
He was arrested by the RCMP in a petrol station in Enfield, north west of capital Halifax. Police later announced that he had died.
“In excess of 10 people have been killed,” RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said earlier.
“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.”
Police officer among the dead
Brian Sauve, president of the National Police Federation union, said a police officer was among those killed in a shooting and another was injured.
“Our hearts are heavy with grief and sadness today as we have lost one of our own,” said Sauve said. “A second dedicated member was injured in the line of duty.”
Police have not provided a motive for the attack.
By late morning yesterday, there were half a dozen police vehicles at the scene. Yellow police tape surrounded the petrol pumps, and a large silver-coloured SUV was being investigated by police.
The incident started in the small, rural town of Portapique, with police advising residents to lock their homes and stay in their basements.
Several building fires were reported by residents as well.
“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,″ Nova Scotia premier Stephen McNeil said.
“This is one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province’s history,” he said.
He said it was an additional “heavy burden” amid efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Lisa Croteau, a spokeswoman with the provincial force, said police received a call about “a person with firearms” at around 10.30pm on Saturday and the investigation “evolved into an active shooting investigation”.
“My heart goes out to everyone affected in what is a terrible situation,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
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, near the lockdown area.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
This is a terrible tragedy. Many families torn to pieces, RIP to the deceased.
Just beyond words sad, especially with so many fighting so hard to save lives currently
Rip
Unusual that he was identified so quickly these days
@Maurice Dodd: was a local in a very small rural community where everyone knows everyone locals out driving seen things unfold on the roads. The cops had an elert out to people with his name and not to approach he was dressed like a cop and had a car similar to a cop car so his name was out there while it was happening. Scary stuff
Very sad, RIP.
Thoughts and prayers.
Shocking Sad rip to the victims
If only they had more guns! They could have protected themselves.
@Al Fresco: thats america num pthy
@James Rowan: Canadians own more guns than Americans per captia butt head
@Karllye kripton: fake news from you again..tsk tsk..
@Karllye kripton: thats canada worst mass shooting,they may have more guns than america but when was the last mass shooting in canada,you num pthy
@Karllye kripton: Rubbish.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimated_number_of_civilian_guns_per_capita_by_country
Think it’s updated to 17 dead now. Very very sad. Shooter owned a local business & properties .
They must need some gun control
@Sean M: I hope that’s sarcasm. It’s rare and tho it’s now 16 dead I believe it’s the worst shooting they’ve had.
@Sean M: considering far less people will die from guns in countries that have gun proper control than in America maybe they should consider it.
@johnny onion eye: officially the worst here in history. You can get guns for hunting here takes a while strict laws and licencing. Rare but it tends to happen in rural areas. He was a denturist well known and respected man. Was very ore meditated who knows if he had a psychotic break of some sort
@Sean M: I think Canadian people take a different attitude to gun legislation compared with their Big Neighbours.
Awful news RIP for all the people who were killed and I hope the injured people will get better . .
Very sad R.I.P. How many of our front line hero’s have been lost or will loose due to the usual stall wort classist decisions being made, no preparation for PPE.. Then bought 1/4 billion worth of feathered turkey from China and 1 in 10 seemingly with covid overall are health care front line people.
@Agenda21: What are you ranting about? That made little to no sense
@ihcalaM: Think he needs to go back to sleep.
@ihcalaM: I know ihcalaW what more can I say?
@Richard: what about yourself, richy need sleep also like amazballs and all that nonchalant nonsense?
@Agenda21: Na I’ve had my four hours I’m good. Is it too early or too late for a beer?
@Richard: ask an alcoholic non passive for that and you know its true
@ihcalaM: who’s social media identity have you hijacked ihcalaW 2 feed neo-liberal capitalists while filling people that don’t agree with you insulted, in the ffg handbooks of ar5e holes seeming
@Agenda21: Dude?
@Agenda21: stoll wort. Jesus.
@Agenda21: absolute clipe
@Richard: never to late or to early to start
@Dan Moran: I agree
He killed a cop, was taken into custody and then later died. Hmmm.
@Sean Fahey: He was shot prior? Not all gunshot wounds kill immediately.
@Sean Fahey: Pretty sure he wasn’t taken into custody, sounds like it all ended near a gas station
@Sean Fahey: Are you trying to divert attention from these horrendous murders of 19 people to the action of the police officers called upon to deal with this nightmare? You seem to have lost all sense of morality. You probably don’t even know how sick this is?
have your say