At least 16 people have been killed in the deadliest mass shooting in Canada’s history.
The gunman, who was disguised as a police officer, carried out his rampage over 12 hours in Nova Scotia. Among the dead was Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable (RCMP) Heidi Stevenson, a married mother-of-two who had served in the force for 23 years.
The suspect, identified as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, mocked up a car to make it look like a police vehicle.
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki said she believed the gunman had an initial “motivation” at the beginning that “turned to randomness”.
Wortman was arrested at a petrol station in Enfield, north-west of the province’s capital Halifax, but he later died. Reports that he was shot dead by officers were not officially confirmed, although police did say that they had exchanged fire with Wortman.
The rampage started late on Saturday in the rural town of Portapique, with police advising residents to lock their doors and stay in their basements.
The gunman then shot people in several locations across Nova Scotia. Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said: “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 did not provide a motive. Mr Leather said many of the victims did not know the gunman.
“That fact that this individual had a uniform and a police car at his disposal certainly speaks to it not being a random act,” Mr Leather said.
He added that police would look at a possible link to the closure of non-essential businesses due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Police said the suspect was driving what appeared to be a police car but later said he had swapped to a small, silver Chevrolet SUV. They confirmed he was not a police employee.
Nova Scotia premier Stephen McNeil said: “This is one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province’s history.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated: “My heart goes out to everyone affected in what is a terrible situation.”
