UPDATE, 9: 18 p.m. ET: The shooter killed 16 individuals, according to RCMP spokesperson Daniel Brien, making it the most dangerous such attack in Canadian history
TORONTO (AP)– A 51- year-old male went on a shooting rampage across the northern part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia Sunday, killing at least 10 people, consisting of a policewoman. Authorities stated the suspected shooter was also dead.
The male was determined as Gabriel Wortman and authorities said he camouflaged himself as a law enforcement officer in uniform at one point and buffooned up an automobile to make it appear like a Royal Canadian Mounted Patrol car.
He was jailed by the RCMP in a gas station in Enfield, Nova Scotia, northwest of downtown Halifax. Police later announced that he had passed away.
” In excess of 10 individuals have been killed,” RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather stated. “Our company believe it to be a single person who is accountable for all the killings which he alone moved across the northern part of the province and committed what seems numerous homicides.”
Leather said they do not have a last death count.
” It likely will be more than10 How much more than 10, I do not understand,” he said.
Brian Sauvé, President of National Police Federation union, stated a policeman was among those eliminated in a shooting and another was hurt.
The dead officer was determined as Const. Heidi Stevenson, a mother of two and a 23- year-old veteran of the force.
Cops have actually not offered a motive for the attack. He stated a number of the victims did not understand the shooter.
” That truth that this individual had a uniform and a police car at his disposal definitely speaks to it not being a random act,” Leather said.
Leather said they would examine whether it had anything to do with the coronavirus pandemic. “We have not yet figured out whether there is any link to the COVID-19 crisis,” he stated.
He stated at point there was an exchange of gunfire in between the suspect and police.
There were half a dozen squad car at the scene of a gasoline station where the suspect was shot. Yellow authorities tape surrounded the gas pumps, and a big silver-colored SUV was being examined.
The occurrence started in the little, rural town of Portapique, with police advising residents to lock their houses and remain in their basements.
Cops discovered lots of dead inside and outside the home of the very first scene.
A number of structures were on fire in the area too.
” This is one of the most ridiculous acts of violence in our province’s history,” stated Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil. He said it was an extra “heavy burden” in the middle of efforts to consist of the new coronavirus.
Mass shootings are fairly rare in Canada. Canada overhauled its gun-control laws after the nation’s worst mass shooting in 1989, when gunman Marc Lepine killed 14 women and himself at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique college. It is now prohibited to possess an unregistered pistol or any sort of rapid-fire weapon. Canada also requires training, a personal threat evaluation, 2 references, spousal alert and rap sheet checks.
Authorities specified earlier Sunday the suspect in Sunday’s shootings was driving an automobile that appeared like a squad car and wearing an authorities uniform, but later said he was “believed to be driving a small, silver Chevrolet SUV.” They said he is not an RCMP employee or officer.
Cpl. Lisa Croteau, a spokeswoman with the provincial force, stated authorities got a call about “an individual with guns” at around 10: 30 p.m. Saturday and the investigation “evolved into an active shooting examination.”
” My heart goes out to everyone impacted in what is a horrible situation,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
Christine Mills, a resident of the town, said it had been a frightening night for the village, with armed officers patrolling the streets. In the early morning, helicopters flew overhead searching for the suspect.
” I feel better now to know he remains in custody,” Mills stated. “It’s nerve-wracking because you don’t know if someone has lost their mind and is going to beat in your front door.”
Tom Taggart, a lawmaker who represents the Portapique area in the Municipality of Colchester, said the quiet neighborhood has been shaken.
” This is just a definitely wonderful, peaceful quiet neighborhood and the idea that this might take place in our community boggles the mind,” Taggart said by phone from his home in Bass River, near the lockdown location.
A Gabriel Wortman is listed as a denturist in Dartmouth, according to the Denturist Society of Nova Scotia site. A suspect photo issued by the RCMP matches video footage of a man being interviewed about dentures by CTV Atlantic in 2014.
Mills likewise stated that Wortman was known in your area as a denturist who divided his time between a residence in Halifax and a home in Portapique.
Taggart said he didn’t understand Wortman well, but spoke with him a few times when he telephoned about local problems.
Taggart explained understanding Wortman’s “lovely huge home” on Portapique Beach Road. He stated Wortman owned a couple of other residential or commercial properties and was believed to divide his time in between Portapique and his company in Dartmouth.
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